To  THE  EDITOK  : 

DEAR  SIK  : — If  the  work  herewith  transmitted 
shall  be  found  useful  in  your  neighborhood,  in  any 
degree,  may  I  request  that  you  1'avnr  me  with  copies 

ol'  an  J  •<  or  coo  iis  ib  which   it   may 

«^~          ;- 
lead  '. 

n1!  \ . 

T.  F.  M. 


THE  COMMERCIAL  AGENCY 

"SYSTEM" 

OF  THE 

UNITED    STATES    AND    CANADA 

EXPOSED. 

IS  THE  SECRET  INQUISITION  A  CURSE  OR  A  BENEFIT  ? 


THE 


COMMERCIAL  AGENCY 

"SYSTEM" 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES   AND   CANADA 

EXPOSED. 

IS   THE  SECRET   INQUISITION   A    CURSE  OR  A   BENEFIT? 


BT 

THOMAS  Y.  MEAGHER. 


"I  love  agitation;  the  fire-bell  which  alarms  the  inhabitants  of  a  city 
saves  them  from  being  burned  in  their  beds." — EDMUND  BURKE. 


NEW-YORK. 

1876. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1876,  by 

THOMAS   F.  MEAQHER, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


TO 

<%  gdmfrants,  Bankers,  Patrafactorers,  an&  ftrabers 

OP  THE 

$ttiteb  Plaits  anb  Canaba, 

WHOSE    CHARACTERS    AND    COMMERCIAL    CREDIT    HAVE    BEEN    SO 

LONG  AND   SO  UNSPARINGLY  TRAFFICKED  IN,  AND  SO  MANY 

OF    WHOM    HAVE   BEEN    FINANCIALLY    CRIPPLED     OR 

RUINED     BY    THE     SYSTEM     HEREIN     EXPOSED, 

THIS     BOOK, 

WRITTEN    IN    THEIR     INTEREST,    DESIGNED     FOR    THEIR    IN- 
FORMATION, AND  INTENDED  TO  PREVENT  GREATER  IN- 
JURY TO  HONEST  COMMERCE  IN  THE  FUTURE, 
IS     RESPECTFULLY     DEDICATED 

BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


203C174 


TO   MY  READERS. 


AN  intelligent  examination  of  the  claims  of  the  Commercial  Agency 
system,  now  seeking  permanent  incorporation  into  the  business  life  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  and  refused  hospitality  or  encouragement  every- 
where else,  has  been  a  want  long  felt  by  the  business  men  of  both  countries. 
Up  to  the  present  moment,  no  one,  whether  from  lack  of  facilities  or  de- 
ficiency of  information,  or  a  prudent  disinclination  to  engage  in  a  labor  so 
certain  to  be  onerous  and  so  sure  to  be  followed  by  bitter  controversy,  has 
seen  fit  to  satisfy  the  general  desire ;  and  the  writer,  consequently,  is  not 
alone  the  first  in  an  untried  field  of  investigation,  but  has  had  to  undergo 
the  treble  work  of  exploration,  classification,  and  commentary.  As  he  pro- 
gressed, the  dimensions  of  his  subject  seemed  to  expand,  and  he  found 
himself  quite  as  much  embarrassed  in  choosing  what  he  should  exclude  as 
in  selecting  what  he  should  publish.  This  difficulty,  inseparable  from  the 
topic,  is  relied  on  to  explain  and  excuse  any  defects  of  style  or  method. 
For  the  rest,  he  believes  he  has  kept  within  the  limits  of  legitimate  contro- 
versy, and  prevented  his  unpleasant  task  of  exposure  from  taking  the  ob- 
jectionable and  customary  form  of  a  rancorous  criticism  or  a  splenetic  pas- 
quinade. In  essaying  to  set  forth  clearly  the  cardinal  tricks  and  devices  of 
a  scheme  of  business  of  elaborate  pretension  and  ramification,  three  condi- 
tions arc  essential :  practical  knowledge,  a  painstaking  collation  of  evidence, 
and  a  disposition  to  draw  just  conclusions  from  proved  facts.  The  author 
submits  his  work  with  confidence  as  an  illustration  of  the  first  two.  The 
reader  must  determine  whether  or  not  he  has  kept  within  the  scope  of  fair 
discussion  or  substituted  sophistry  for  reasoning.  From  the  men  who  find 
their  profit  in  the  Agency  system,  favorable  opinions  are  not  expected.  In- 
deed, their  bitter  opposition  is  desired,  and,  so  far  as  possible,  anticipated. 
The  silversmiths  of  Ephesus  naturally  favored  image-worship ;  and  the 
iconoclast  need  not  look  for  reward  or  commendation  from  the  devotees 
and  beneficiaries  of  imposture.  But  just  in  proportion  to  the  violence  and 
unreason  of  deeply  and  selfishly  interested  persons  should  be  the  desire  of 
the  press  and  the  general  public  to  assure  the  writer  a  fair  and  full  hearing 
on  the  merits. 

The  author  would  be  unjust  to  his  own  feelings  if  he  omitted  to  ac- 
knowledge the  many  kindnesses  of  the  press  and  leading  merchants  when 
the  work  was  first  announced.  His  hearty  thanks  are  due  to  over  a  hun- 
dred daily  newspapers  published  in  English,  German,  and  French,  and  over 


VIII  PREFACE. 

five  hundred  weeklies,  literary,  religious,  and  polemical  —  several  being 
addressed,  in  the  vernacular,  to  small  constituencies  of  Welsh,  Bohe- 
mians, Scandinavians,  etc.,  etc.  Their  considerate  and  elaborate  encour- 
agement, following  quickly  and  spontaneously  after  the  publication 
of  our  Prospectus,  in  addition  to  private  letters  from  editors,  con- 
vinced us,  more  than  any  thing  else,  that  our  purpose  would  be  fairly 
judged,  and  induced  us  to  enlarge  our  original  plan  from  a  mere  col- 
lection of  evidences  of  wrong-doing  into  a  ready  handbook  of  means 
for  reparation.  We  felt  it  was  not  enough  to  put  the  trading  public 
on  its  guard,  and  that  we  should  go  farther  and  place  it  in  a  position  to 
retrieve  loss  and  assert  the  rights  of  reputation.  Beside  the  facts  given  in 
the  text,  a  first  instalment  of  the  names  of  merchants  depreciated  in  capi- 
tal or  character  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix.  This  list  will  be  increased 
in  future  editions.  A  complete  one  would  entail  the  publication  of  a  book 
ten  times  the  size  of  the  present  one,  and  place  it  at  a  .price  which  would 
greatly  curtail  the  circulation  (for  the  present,  at  least)  of  the  more  im- 
portant part  of  the  publication.  To  the  trading  public,  more  than  to  any 
special  efforts  of  our  own,  the  results  of  the  agitation  inaugurated  herein 
will  be  mainly  due.  The  individual  merchant  Avho  discovers  in  the  follow- 
ing pages,  for  the  first  time,  his  best  defence  against  attempted  or  successful 
libel,  will  naturally  assist  in  circulating  the  book  in  self-defence ;  but  it  is 
respectfully  submitted  that  what  would  be  a  wise  self-interest  in  the  instance 
of  such  a  person  is  a  just  precaution  or  a  judicious  preventive  for  every 
one  who  expects  to  lead  a  successful  commercial  career,  and  to  enjoy  the  un- 
impaired confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

THE  AUTHOR. 
NEW- YORK,  January  3,  1876. 


NOTICE 
TO  THE  VOLUNTEER  CORRESPONDENTS 

OF 

THE  MERCANTILE  AND  COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


WHEN  he  commenced  the  publication  of  this  work,  the  writer  proposed  to 
insert  in  the  Appendix  the  names  of  the  known  correspondents  of  the  several 
Agencies.  Whilst  it  was  passing  through  the  press,  he  learned  that  large 
numbers  of  these  persons  were  already  ashamed  of  the  business,  fearful  of  ex- 
posure, and,  for  other  reasons,  dropping  out  of  association  with  the  Agencies. 
It  occurred  to  him  that  great  injustice  might  be  done  and  needless  annoyance 
given  to  these  converts  to  self-respect  by  a  publication  of  their  names  after  their 
withdrawal,  and  that  some  more  time  should  be  given  to  permit  the  remaining 
libellers  of  neighbors  to  reflect,  repent,  and  sever  their  connection  also. 

As  his  purpose  is  reformation  rather  than  exposure — the  permanent  destruc- 
tion of  the  detestable  habit  rather  than  the  punishment  of  its  dupes  and  acces- 
sories— he  has  finally  determined  to  withhold  the  names  of  correspondents  for 
the  press  or  a  future  edition.  Whoever  desires  to  drop  his  connection  with  the 
system  meantime,  can  inform  me  by  letter,  and  his  name  will  be  taken  off  the 
list.  The  incorrigible  or  negligent  can  not  complain  if  they  find  themselves 
duly  announced  as  in  the  active  exercise  of  a  disreputable  practice. 

THOMAS  F.  MEAGHER. 

Post-Office  Box  4309,  New- York  City. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


-CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

Preliminary 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  prima-facie  Difficulties  of  safe  Inquiry — The  special  Defects  of  Investi- 
gation by  Bureaux  or  in  Mass 0 

CHAPTER  III. 

Further  Difficulties  of  the  System  considered — The  Agencies  creating  them.     16 

CHAPTER  IV. 

What  the  Agencies  receive — What  they  do  for  it,  and  how  it  is  done — How 
they  thrive  without  deserving— The  "  Health-Lift"  and  "Moth-Exter 
minator" 23 

CHAPTER  V. 
The  "  Keys"  which  unlock  nothing — How  Business  Confidence  is  regulated.     29 

CHAPTER  VI. 
How  the  "  Keys"  are  played  and  Ratings  made  up — Who  sit  in  judgment 

and  dispense  Agency  justice 36 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Further  Illustrations  of  Agency  Ignorance,  Cupidity,  and  Avarice — Do  they 

contribute  to  mislead  confidence  ? 46 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Changes  in  Subscriptions — What  causes  them  ? — The  Agencies  as  Wit- 
nesses against  themselves— The  Old  and  New  Agreements  and  the  Se- 
cret Circular — Attempts  to  Dupe  Subscribers ...  55 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Dispensations  of  Providence  or  what  ?— The  Secret  Black  List— What  it  is, 

with  Illustrations 62 

CHAPTER  X. 

Wheels  within  Wheels — Doctors  differ— And  what  they  say  of  their  Pa- 
tients. . .  .67 


xii  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  XI. 
The  Weekly  Change-Sheets— Their  incompleteness— Their  age 74 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Tampering  with  the  Legislatures  of  certain  States  and  the  Parliament  of  the 

Dominion  of  Canada— More  Secret  Circulars— Facts  and  Methods 80 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Spreading  the  Plague— The  Foreign  Offices  and  their  uses— Jonathan  the 
only  Suspect 87 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Do  the  Agencies  contribute  to  or  lessen  Panics  in  Trade  ? 90 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Do  the  Agencies  make  the  Corrections  which  they  claim  to  make  ? — Betray- 
ing Inquirers  to  each  other 96 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  relations  of  Agencies  to  Non-Subscribers  and  "  Street"  rumors — Could 
Credits  be  guaranteed  and  Business  Profits  made  to  depend  more  exclu- 
sively on  the  amount  of  Sales  ? 102 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  legal  Difficulties  of  the  Agencies— How  they  strike  their  Colors  or  es- 
cape from  the  Field— Straws  from  the  Bar 112 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  Agencies'  Estimates  compared  and  applied  to  Individuals  in  various 
cities— The  ridiculous  Figure  cut  by  the  "  Wisdom-Sellers" 121 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Important  Legal  Decision— The  McLean  Case  in  Toronto — The  Agency  prin- 
ciple of  non-accountability  denied  by  a  Canadian  Jury — A  Verdict  for 
the  Plaintiff  in  a  Test  Case 144 

CHAPTER  XX. 

The  best  means  of  reducing  the  danger  from  the  Inquisition — Correspon- 
dents behind  a  Mask— What  Merchants  think  of  the  need  of  change- 
Free  Talkers  about  others  sure  to  be  brought  to  task 159 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  enormity  of  the  Black  Lists— The  number  of  Persons  and  amounts  of 
invested  Capital  placed  under  ban— Muddled  Credits  and  paralyzed 
Trade 167 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Last  Words , .  173 


SEOEET  BLACK  LISTS. 


PART    I. 

PAGE 

New-York  City 179 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y 218 

Albany,  N.  Y 223 

Atlanta,  Ga 224 

Auburn,  N.  Y 225 

Baltimore,  Md 226 

Bangor,  Me 228 

Binghamton,  N.  Y 229 

Boston,  Mass 229 

Buffalo,  N.  Y 232 

Burlington,  Iowa , 233 

Camden,  N.  J 234 

Charleston,  S.  C 234 

Chicago,  111 235 

Cincinnati,  O *. 237 

Cleveland,  0 240 

Columbus,  0 242 

Davenport,  la 243 

Dayton,  0 243 

Denver,  Col 245 

Detroit,  Mich 246 

Dubuque,  la 247 

Elmira,  N.  Y 247 

Erie,  Pa 248 

Evansville,  Ind 249 

Fall  River,  Mass 249 

Galveston,  Texas 250 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich 251 

Halifax,  N.  S 251 

Hamilton,  Ont 252 

Hartford,  Ct 253 

Houston,  Texas 254 

Indianapolis,  Ind 254 

Jersey  City,  N.  J . . . . '. 255 

Kansas  City,  Mo 256 

Lawrence,  Mass '. 257 

Leavenworth,  Kan 257 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

PAG* 

Lockport,  N.  Y 258 

Louisville,  Ky 258 

Lowell,  Mass "... 259 

Lynn,  Mass 260 

Manchester,  N.  H 261 

Memphis,  Tenn 261 

Milwaukee,  Wis 262 

Mobile,  Ala 264 

Montreal,  Que 265 

Nashville,  Tenn 266 

Newark,  N.  J 267 

New-Haven,  Ct 267 

New-Orleans,  La 269 

Norfolk,  Va 270 

Oswego,  N.  Y 271 

Paterson,  N.  J 271 

Philadelphia,  Pa 272 

Pittsburgh,  Pa 274 

Portland,  Me 276 

Portland,  Or 277 

Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y 278 

Providence,  R.  1 278 

Raleigh,  N.  C 280 

Richmond,  Va 281 

Rochester,  N.  Y t 282 

Sacramento,  Cal 283 

San  Francisco,  Cal 284 

Savannah,  Qa 286 

Scranton,  Pa 287 

Springfield,  Mass 288 

St.  John,  N.  B 288 

St.  Joseph,  Mo 289 

St.  Louis,  Mo 290 

St.  Paul,  Minn 291 

Syracuse,  N.  Y 291 

Toledo,  0 292 

Toronto,  Ont 293 

Trenton,  N.  J 294 

Troy,  N.  Y 294 

Utica,  N.  Y 295 

Washington,  D.  C 296 

Wilmington,  Del 297 

Worcester,  Mass 298 


THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PRELIMINARY. 

"  BUSINESS  SOCIETY" — in  the  largest  sense,  the  inter-communi- 
cation of  civilized  man  for  admitted  purposes  of  protection,  profit, 
and  culture — is  a  phrase  representing  an  infinitely  complex  activity ; 
but  its  definition,  for  the  purposes  of  this  work,  may  be  properly 
expressed  by  calling  it  "  that  body  of  men  who  live  by  traffic  in 
each  other's  goods,  and  profit  or  lose  by  reliance  on  each  other's 
integrity." 

The  earliest  recorded  commercial  transaction,  involving  money, 
is  that  in  the  Book  of  Genesis,  33  :  19,  where  Jacob  is  re- 
ported to  have  bought  "  a  part  of  a  field  from  the  children  of 
Hamor  for  a  hundred  pieces  of  money."  Barter,  exchange  of 
commodity,  must  have  been  general,  however,  during  the  lifetime 
of  Adam,  and,  either  toward  the  close  of  his  life,  or  very  soon 
after  it,  must  have  reached  a  condition  of  fixed  values  suited  to 
the  wants  of  his  immediate  descendants  ;  for  we  begin  to  find  the 
word  Jiesitah — which  means,  indifferently,  "  a  lamb  "  or  a  "  por- 
tion " — used  as  a  standard  among  them :  so  many  lambs,  so  much 
land.  When  the  purely  shepherd  character  changed  into  the 
more  fixed  patriarchal  form,  "  flocks"  came  to  be  a  means  of  com- 
parison with  "  herds,"  and  cattle  and  oxen  signified  relative  values. 
From  the  tiling  itself  to  the  symbol  was  the  next  step.  One  piece 
of  money  was  marked  with  an  ox ;  and  thus  money,  as  a  represen- 
tative and  medium  of  exchange,  took  its  names  and  devices  from 
the  first  subjects  of  commerce. 

A  circulating  medium  may  be  anything,  provided  it  be  a  current 
representative  of  value.  In  the  Birman  Empire,  tin ;  on  the  coast 


2  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

of  Africa,  shells;  in  the  interior  of  the  continent,  salt;  within  the 
territory  of  the  oldest  Asiatic  and  European  monarchies,  gold  and 
silver — each  became  a  medium ;  but  since  Jeremiah  bought  the 
field  of  Hanameel,  his  uncle's  son,  that  was  in  Anathoth,  and 
"  weighed  him  the  money,  seventeen  shekels  of  silver,"  or  the 
later  time  when  David  bought  "the  threshing-floor,  cattle,  and 
agricultural  implements  of  Oman  the  Jebusite,  for  six  hundred 
shekels  of  gold,"  silver  and  gold  have  been  the  principal  media 
of  trade  for  the  far-scattered  descendants  of  Shem  and  Japheth. 

The  modern  trader,  unlike  the  ancient,  or  even  the  mediaeval 
one,  need  not  bring  gold  or  silver  with  him  to  effect  purchases. 
All  he  requires  is  to  have  the  reputation  of  possessing  enough,  and 
of  being  willing  and  able  to  discharge  his  obligations  punctually. 
This  reputation  is  called  Commercial  Credit. 

As  the  first  act  of  monetary  trading  was  an  Exchange,  the 
latest  one  is  neither  more  nor  less.  An  executed  exchange  leaves 
undetermined  merely  questions  of  False  Representation,  Guaranty,. 
Warranty,  etc.,  as  to  the  things  exchanged.  An  executory  exchange 
bargain  and  sale,  etc.,  turn  almost  wholly  on  the  reputation  of 
the  persons  proposing  it,  either  in  the  sense  of  means  to  respond 
in  damages,  or,  wanting  adequate  means,  their  assisting  reputation 
for  honor  and  integrity. 

In  ordinary  dealings  between  men,  executory  traffic  proceeds  on 
a  belief  in  the  sufficiency  of  the  means  of  the  buyer ;  in  exceptional 
cases,  on  their  personal  character,  cum  their  means;  but  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  society,  in  the  commercial  and  trading  sense,  is  con- 
stantly enlarging  its  demand  for  the  security  of  tangible  and  ex- 
ecutable goods,  and  relying,  less  and  less  daily,  on  the  mere  moral 
character  of  the  owner.  Whether  this  tendency  be  wise  or  un- 
wise— whether  it  indicate  a  lowering  of  public  morality,  or  a  mere 
extension  of  relations  incompatible  with  opportunities  of  personal 
knowledge  of  men's  characters  for  honest  dealing — is  nothing  to 
our  purpose.  It  shows  that  a  just  estimate  of  the  trading  resources 
of  individuals,  firms,  or  corporations  is  a  first  condition  of  traffic, 
and  that  a  false  one  endangers,  limits,  or  destroys  the  opportuni- 
ties of  traffic,  and  either  suspends,  or  causes  to  be  withheld  from 
business  effort,  the  chance  of  honorable  competition  and  the  meed 
of  appropriate  success. 

Since  a  correct  estimate  of  men's  means  to  fulfil  their  business 


THE   SYSTEM  EXPOSED.  3 

obligations  is  a  first  condition  of  successful  business,  a  false  esti- 
mate, either  because  of  its  being  a  wrong  conclusion  from  true 
data,  or  the  result  of  reasoning  on  an  insufficient  collection  of  data, 
is,  to  persons  engaged  in  traffic,  an  injury  and  wrong  of  prime  im- 
portance, which  can  only  result  in  restricted  trading,  or  inade- 
quate profit,  or  final  ruin.  Either  consequence  is  to  be  avoided 
and  dreaded.  For  what  do  men  work,  from  year  to  year,  if  not 
for  the  probability  of  greater  growth  in  confidence  and  multiplied 
profits  ?  And,  even  if  their  capital  be  so  large  and  assured  as  to 
render  criticism  or  misrepresentation  comparatively  non-destruc- 
tive or  non-ruinous,  is  the  escape  from  failure  to  be  solely  regarded, 
and  not  the  unjust  and  exacting  struggle  which  they  have  been 
compelled  to  wage  when  fully  entitled  to  a  prosperous  peace  ? 

In  the  United  States  and  Canada  the  trading  public,  for  the 
first  quarter  of  this  century,  had  no  settled  terms  of  credit,  as 
now  understood,  which  they  applied  indifferently  to  all  whom 
they  credited  ;  and  none  which  depended,  in  any  noteworthy  de- 
gree, on  what  we  may  call  extrinsic  knowledge.  Men  trusted  on 
the  basis  of  their  own  estimate  of  purchasers,  whether  as  to  morals 
or  means,  assisted,  perhaps,  by  the  friendly  advice  of  some  local 
trader  who  had  experience  of  the  habits  of  the  particular  appli- 
cant for  credit.  Where  their  knowledge  was  insufficient  to  justify 
dealings,  or  they  could  not  quickly  get  reliable  corroboration,  they 
contented  themselves  with  their  stock,  and  allowed  the  proposed 
trader  to  go  elsewhere.  A  secret  inquiry  was  a  wound ;  and  while 
the  seller  felt  "  above  it,"  the  buyer  was  too  high-mettled  to  pur- 
chase from  the  inquirer.  Such  a  state  of  business  was,  of  course, 
a  healthy  and  safe  one,  but  it  was  also  restricted.  It  was  not 
suited  to  a  homogeneous  political  society  like  that  of  the  United 
States,  where  some  States  of  the  Confederation  produced  rice, 
sugar,  tobacco,  and  cotton,  and  others  wheat,  wool,  iron,  and  lead — 
natural  exchanges — and  the  citizens  required  the  facile  substitution 
of  products  to  attain  and  enjoy  the  benefits  of  their  climatic  ad- 
vantages, their  inter-State  free-trade,  and  liberal  political  institu- 
tions. The  steamboat,  the  railroad  train,  the  telegraph,  the  tide- 
water canals,  all  conspired  to  quicken  enterprise,  to  enlarge  com- 
mercial relations,  to  make  one  seat  of  special  activity  promptly  re- 
spond to  the  excitements  and  fluctuations  of  other  seats  of  energy 
or  capital :  and  hence  arose  the  necessity,  with  increased  population 


4:  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

and  production,  for  more  extended  markets,  for  more  intimate  ac- 
quaintance *with  the  resources  of  traders  and  the  character  of  go- 
betweens  ;  and  with  these  came  the  want  of  some  authentic,  or 
approximately  authentic,  substitute  for  the  old-time  restricted  and 
personal  inquiry  of  the  individual  merchant  into  the  integrity  and 
means  of  his  proposed  customers. 

When  Astor's  agents  bartered  for  peltries  with  the  Indian  and 
French  habitans,  he  drove  a  cash  business,  and  his  agents  had  no 
•occasion  to  inquire  into  the  existence  of  a  capital  which  they  could 
see  and  touch  whenever  they  chose ;  but  when  checks,  bills  of  ex- 
change, and  promissory  notes  passed  into  general  vogue  as  com- 
mercial substitutes  for  the  issues  of  the  First  National  Bank,  and 
indicated  the  expanding  energies  of  invested  capital  in  forcing  a 
market,  it  became  the  interest  of  producers  to  acquire  a  knowledge 
of  the  resources  of  the  makers,  drawers,  and  indorsers. 

The  earliest  effort  in  this  direction  was  by  means  of  what  are 
now  known  as  Commercial  Travellers — persons  in  the  employment 
of  a  particular  house,  and  accustomed  to  give  the  result  of  their 
investigation  to  the  particular  merchant  for  whom  they  worked. 
.  This  method  was  expensive.  It  compelled  two  or  more  business 
firms  in  the  same  city  to  pay  twice  within  a  year  for  practically 
the  same  information.  It  had  a  further  drawback  in  the  eagerness 
of  these  travellers  to  sell  under  a  risk,  and  so  deserve  either  an  in- 
crease of  salary  or  an  increased  commission  on  sales.  These  allow- 
ances made,  the  device  was  sufficient  for  the  occasion.  While  the 
•  American  Hercules  was  yet  engaged  in  his  earliest  feats  of  con- 
scious power  and  beneficence ;  while  the  internal  seas,  lakes,  and 
rivers  of  the  country  were  throbbing  with  new  forces,  and  distant 
communities  coming  together  to  traffic  in  the  long  and  slowly-ac- 
cumulated wealth  of  the  Arcadian  age ;  when  to  go  or  to  be  in 
debt,  except  for  a  brief  period,  or  without  resources  treble  its 
amount,  was  accounted  madness  or  dishonesty,— a  post-office 
address  wras  as  assuring  as  a  deed  of  trust,  and  a  man's  full 
Christian  name  almost  the  business  equivalent  of  a  chattel  mort- 
gage. In  such  a  state  of  society  the  casual  traveller  served  his 
purpose  well  enough ;  and  what  he  failed  in  was  amply  compensat- 
ed for  by  the  strict  old-time  determination  to  pay  the  last  penny 
in  satisfaction  of  an  obligation.  Even  the  law  was  rather  a  re- 
served than  a  i^sed  corrector  and  collector  of  unsettled  accounts. 


THE    SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  5 

The  East  (there  was,  properly  speaking,  no  "West  then)  sold  and 
the  South  bought ;  and  the  year's  end  found  the  balances  adjusted 
and  the  temporary  debtor  a  desired  customer  for  the  next  year. 
What  has  more  recently  come  to  be  called  "  Southern  honor"  had 
its  origin  in  these  justified  confidences,  and  the  commercial  travel- 
ler was  quite  sufficient  for  all  the  demands  arising  out  of  them. 

But  the  spirit  of  change  entered  into  the  people  with  the  new 
discoveries.  It  soon  seemed  barbarous  to  imprison  for  misfortune 
in  business,  when  speculation  and  energy,  in  tossing  the  dice  of 
desperate  chances,  came  to  be  regarded  an  individual  honor  and  a 
national  characteristic.  The  statutes  in  reference  to  arrest  and 
imprisonment  sensibly  relaxed  in  several  States.  A  bankrupt  law 
followed.  The  introduction,  outside  of  cities,  of  double-bolted 
doors,  of  burglar-proof  safes,  of  a  more  general  carrying  of  arms 
on  the  person,  typified  the  growing  sense  of  insecurity  and  the  re- 
cedence  of  confidence.  Some  new  contrivance  had  to  be  impro- 
vised to  meet  the  new  conditions  of  society.  The  formation  of 
an  association  of  merchants  in  New- York  was  the  first  step; 
the  next  was  the  joint  appointment  of  a  common  agent,  S.  P. 
Church,  to  secure  and  forward  weekly  reports  of  the  condition 
and  business  relations  of  merchants  dealing  or  proposing  to  deal 
with  the  metropolis.  His  letters  were  copied  and  distributed 
among  the  members ;  were  afterward  printed,  for  greater  expedi- 
tion ;  and,  finally,  were  bound  and  preserved  under  the  title  of 
"  Church's  Keports."  Mr.  Church  was  succeeded  in  the  business 
by  his  brother,  John  R.  Church.  Lewis  Tappan  followed  John 
R.  Woodward  and  Dusenberry  next  entered  the  field ;  and  in  1812 
the  feeble  voices  of  two  competing  bureaux  of  Business  Intel- 
ligence might  be  heard  in  New- York,  only  to  be  increased,  some 
years  later,  by  the  addition  of  Bradstreet's,  piped  for  a  time  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  transferred  to  the  Hudson  in  the  faith 
and  trust  of  attaining  a  lustier  pitch  and  more  profitable  perfection. 

We  have  traced  the  need,  and  introduced  the  applied  remedy. 
We  admit  the  need.  We  deny  the  efficacy  of  the  remedy. 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    PRIMA-FACIE    DIFFICULTIES    OF     SAFE    INQUIRY— THE    SPE- 
CIAL  DEFECTS   OF   INVESTIGATION  BY  BUREAUX  OR  IN  MASS. 

LIFE  insurance  is  based  on  the  certainty  of  death  to  a  particu- 
lar number  of  men  in  a  particular  period.  The  Northampton 
tables  are  found,  by  long  experience,  to  be  equivalent  to  a  mathe- 
matical demonstration  of  this  number.  But  who  can  formulate 
solvencies  or  insolvencies?  or,  if  this  can  not  be  done  in  the 
'mass,  who  could  affix  the  term  of  either  to  any  particular  man  or 
firm? 

Quetelet,  in  his  Sur  Vliomme,  has  shown  a  recurring  series  of 
crimes,  preserving  a  close  approximation  to  uniformity  of  number 
in  a  given  period,  but  he  reaches  the  result  by  considering  crimes 
as  deeds  of  violence  and,  of  course,  the  effective  cause  of  death, 
and  not  as  mere  breaches  of  moral  or  statutory  law.  In  other 
words,  he  takes  the  same  known  certainty  of  death  as  the  North- 
ampton tables,  and  merely  differentiates,  with  the  aid  of  census 
and  prison  reports,  from  the  result  of  violence  to  the  variety  of 
methods  of  its  illustration. 

But  there  never  can  be  a  Table  of  Fraud  compiled  or  loga- 
rithms of  insolvency  perfected.  In  its  very  essence  the  former  is 
elusive,  and,  resting  in  intent  more  than  in  consequences,  human 
ingenuity  would  be  taxed  in  vain  to  seize  it,  in  any  stage  of  pro- 
gress or  development,  in  the  individual  or  in  the  community  ; 
whilst  the  latter,  as  it  may  be  the  result  of  a  single. bad  bargain, 
as  well  as  of  a  succession  of  bad  bargains,  or  the  incalculable  acts 
of  others,  is  no  less  incapable  of  calculation.  No  system  can  be 
devised,  therefore,  to  overcome,  or  accurately  anticipate,  condi- 
tions and  circumstances  so  complex  and  variable.  In  life  in- 
surance, besides,  the  insurer  proceeds  not  only  on  the  proved 
average  of  deaths  in  a  community,  but  he  secures  a  scientific  opin- 
ion of  the  state  of  health  of  the  applicant  at  the  time  of  his  ap- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  7 

plication.  Constitutional  maladies  are  readily  discovered.  Apti- 
tudes, or  conditions  specially  favorable  to  the  acquisition  of  con- 
tagious diseases,  are  noted ;  and  a  simulated  health,  or  a  fraudu- 
lent withholding  of  indicative  symptoms  or  facts,  is  made  suffi- 
cient to  avoid  the  policy.  The  insurer,,  too,  is  in  receipt  of  bene- 
fits long  before  he  is  called  on  to  discharge  obligations  ;  and  dur- 
ing the  running  of  the  policy,  as  well  as  afterwards,  he  has  op- 
portunities of  detecting  whatever  might  be  used  to  defeat  his 
liability.  The  merchant,  on  the  other  hand,  must  act  at  once,  and 
give  or  refuse  credit  within  a  brief  period.  lie  must  judge  of  ap- 
pearances without  scientific  assistance.  If  he  inquire  personally 
and  at  the  moment,  he  may  either  receive  correct  or  false  infor- 
mation, the  value  of  which  can  only  be  truly  determined  when 
the  time  of  credit  shall  have  expired ;  and  if  he  inquire  through 
third  parties — like  the  Agencies — he  is  only  substituting  their 
presumption  for  his  own.  Anything  approaching  a  basis  for  a 
credit  formula,  is  plainly  out  of  the  question  in  commercial  trans- 
actions, however  recent  may  be  the  examination  or  however 
thorough  the  examiner.  Wanting  a  basis  of  certainty,  or  method 
of  averages,  all  attempts  to  define  what  are  and  what  are  not 
judicious  estimates  of  credit  must  drop  from  the  pretence  of  sys-  < 
tern  to  the  plane  of  guess-work,  with  less  or  more  chances  in 
favor  of  or  against  the  guesser.  Whoever  can  best  acquire  the 
greatest  amount  of  proximate  truth  in  reference  to  the  condition 
of  a  trader  can  (other  things  being  equal)  best  determine  whether 
credit  should  be  given  or  withheld ;  and  as  the  most  recent  and 
thorough  investigator  is  most  likely  to  arrive  at  a  wise  conclusion 
by  procuring  the  latest  information  attainable,  the  individual  who 
is  incited  by  the  greatest  pressing  interest  is  more  apt  than  any 
one  else  to  guess  with  less  hazard  of  being  every  time,  or  in  the 
majority  of  cases,  mistaken.  All  men  do  not  fail  in  business ;  the 
majority  of  traders  prosper;  few  of  the  prosperous  become 
fraudulent  to  become  more  prosperous  temporarily:  these  are 
the  rules  for  guidance  possible,  in  all  events ;  and  these  leave  the 
whole  inquiry  of  the  application  of  credit  to  particular  individuals 
to  be  only  safely  prosecuted  by  the  person  who  might  suffer  per- 
sonally through  negligence,  or  by  some  one  who  bears  an  almost 
identical  relation  to  the  credit-giver. 

In  a  later  chapter  we  shall  apply  agency  estimates  to  indivi- 


8  THE   COMMEECIAL  AGENCIES. 

duals,  compare  agency  estimates  with  each  other,  and  demon- 
strate, from  the  comparison,  the  infinite  superiority  of  individual 
over  agency  guesses;  but,  meantime,  we  proceed  to  notice  the 
salient  elements  of  business  life  on  which  both  must  proceed  to 
form  and  express  opinions.  The  prime  causes  of  business  failures 
are,  besides  overtrading  or  illegitimate  speculation,  personal  and 
family  extravagance,  gambling,  and  harlotry.  We  do  not  mention 
drinking ;  for  it  is,  as  a  rule,  the  effect  of  failing  fortunes,  and  not 
the  efficient  cause  of  them ;  whereas  the  other  operative  vices 
usually  spring  from  excessive  hopefulness  or  a  luxury  begotten  of 
success.  It  might  even  be  doubted  whether  or  not  indulgence  in 
ardent  spirits — short  of  habitual  incapacity  to  do  business — has 
ever,  of  itself,  produced  a  business  failure.  Commercial  honor 
:never  stood  higher  in  this  country  than  when  the  act  of  trading 
was  opened  and  closed  by  a  social  glass  in  the  very  temple  of 
Juno-Moneta.  This  habit  led  to  intimacies  and  offices  of  hospi- 
tality and  friendship.  The  fact  of  barter  was  only  one  incident 
of  a  social  intercourse  which  the  veriest  cheat  could  not  bring 
himself  to  disregard  with  impunity.  Individual  honor  was  pledg- 
ed -as  well  as  commercial  fidelity ;  and  if  reverses  followed  and 
•the  latter  was  not  redeemed,  the  seller  had  no  occasion  to  expect 
the  pretended  unfortunate  had  only  passed  from  foraging  on 
friends  to  an  opulent  privacy.  The  shamefacedness  which  now 
drives  the  professional  gambler,  and  almost  him  alone,  out  of  a 
society  in  which  his  word  has  been  broken,  was  then  so  potent 
with  all  classes  of  men  that  our  oldest  merchants  cannot  recall 
an  instance  of  one  of  their  craft  flaunting  the  profits  of  a  fraudu- 
lent failure  in  the  faces  of  his  victims.  Suicide  or  exile  removed 
the  dishonored  ;  and  public  opinion  enforced  the  alternative  with 
greater  vigor  and  remorselessness  than  courts  or  juries  have  since 
been  able  to  exercise. 

The  far-reaching  and  secret  habit  of  speculation  with  business 
capital  in  gold  and  stocks — "  operating,"  as  it  is  called  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  street — presents,  in  itself,  an  obstacle  so  great  to  the 
attainment  of  any  sort  of  average  certainty  in  calculating  business 
risks,  as  to  be  practically  impossible  for  the  Agencies.  It  is  no  longer 
confined  to  the  avowed  brokers  and  speculators  of  our  money  cen- 
tres. The  artisan,  the  farmer,  the  merchant  classes,  all  contribute 
their  quota  of  enthusiasm  and  supply  their  share  of  margins,  and 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  9 

the  merchant  class,  notably  and  naturally,  more  than  all  the  rest. 
With  a  broker  in  Wall  street  and  a  stock  indicator  at  his  elbow, 
the  trader  has  every  opportunity  of  taking  a  hand  in  that  im- 
mense traffic  in  gold  and  stocks  whose  annual  sale  by  means  of  the 
Gold  Room  and  New- York  Stock  Exchange  alone  is  computed  at 
$22,000,000,000.  A  fortune  may  be  made  or  lost  in  a  day.  A 
third,  one  half,  all  the  capital  and  credit  of  a  firm  may  be  risked 
and  swamped  in  less  time  than  it  would  take  to  remove  the  shut- 
ters or  open  the  safe. 

The  temptation  afforded  by  this  kind  of  speculation  is  not 
limited  to  any  class  of  persons  or  any  kind  of  business.  It  reaches 
everywhere.  The  clerk  and  his  employer,  the  confidential  mana- 
ger and  the  senior  capitalist,  the  company's  secretary  and  the  bank- 
ing-house cashier,  feel  the  insidious  influence  of  the  rise  and  fall 
of  gold  and  stock  in  Wall  and  Broad  streets.  It  has  become  so  uni- 
versal that  its  results  can  no  longer  be  separated,  with  any  accuracy, 
from  such  heretofore  controlling  processes  as  the  procession  of 
the  Seasons,  the  growth  or  failure  of  Crops,  or  Peace  or  War  at 
home  or  abroad.  Outside  speculation  is  no  longer  an  exceptional 
fact  in  the  lives  of  our  business  men — a  Tulip-Fever  or  a  Cochin- 
China  madness ;  a  "  put,"  a  "  call,"  or  a  "  turn"  have  become  a 
general  language*  and  express  a  general  activity.  In  the  era  of 
knee-breeches  and  silver  buckles,  people  pointed  at  a  wagerer  in 
the  few  stocks  then  in  vogue  as  a  man  apart  from  the  ways  of 
men.  To-day  the  difficulty  would  be  to  show  a  man  who  is  not  a 
wagerer  on  the  possibility  of  a  possibility — a  secret  thrower  of  the 
dice  of  chance — a  tossing  Bull  or  a  squeezing  Bear  of  some  State 
or  municipal  security,  preferred  railroad,  mining  or  manufac- 
turing stocks.  There  may  be  no  account  of  his  transactions  in  the 
ledger.  They  may  be — generally  are — kept  secret  from  his  busi- 
ness friends.  But  they  write  themselves  in  his  care-worn  face, 
and  either  lift  him  to  sudden  affluence  or  precipitate  him  into  as 
wondrous  poverty. 

How  can  a  mercantile  or  commercial  Agency  learn,  calculate,  or 
approximate  the  extent  of  this  universal  habit  on  business  men's 
capital  and  credit  ?  How  can  it  foretell  by  an  hour,  a  month, 
or  a  year,  whether  an  unknown  investment  shall  prove  fortunate 
or  unfortunate,  when  the  investor  himself  is  so  often  mistaken 
and  deceived  ?  Many  times  the  whole  available  floating  capital  of 


10  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

the  country  is  turned  over  in  Wall  and  Broad  streets  within  a  year. 
"Who  can  predicate  of  any  particular  part  of  it  that  the  places  which 
knew  it  once  shall  know  it  any  more  forever  ? 

"We  do  not  ask  how  it  is  possible  for  the  Agencies  to  anticipate  a 
Black  Friday  or  some  lesser  calamity  at  any  time — for  prescience 
like  this  could  not  be  pretended ;  but  we  inquire,  what  can  they 
know  of  the  ordinary  daily  dealings  of  any  single  man  in  the  Stock 
Board  or  in  the  Street  ?  Absolutely  nothing.  The  reader  versed 
in  the  names  and  fortunes  of  Wall  and  Broad  streets  need  only 
look  at  the  ratings  of  any  dozen  of  his  acquaintances  to  learn  the 
consequence.  A  more  perfect  bal  masque  cannot  be  conceived. 
Every  one  will  be  found  to  have  a  different  character  from  what 
the  reader  knows  him  to  possess,  and  one  just  as  different  from  his 
"street"  character  as  it  is  possible  to  be  variant.  Relations  find 
poorer  relations,  who  could  not  control  one  thousand  dollars  over 
and  above  the  value  of  their  seat,  rated  in  the  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands ;  others,  with  hundreds  of  thousands,  not  rated,  or  despitef  ully 
used.  It  would  occupy  too  much  space  to  give  instances  which 
must  be  at  the  finger-ends  of  .every  banker,  broker,  and  operator. 
While  we  pay  from  $150  to  $5000  yearly  subscription,  we  must  not 
be  surprised  to  find  Henry  Clews  &  Co.  standing  as  high  in  credit  as 
A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co.  when  the  firm  was  not  worth  one  tenth  of 
its  liabilities,  and  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  exalted  to  the  skies  in  credit 
and  capital  at  the  very  moment  when  courts  of  Common  Law  and 
Bankruptcy  were  contending,  preliminarily,  which  should  dole  out 
his  shrunken  values  and  appease  the  cries  of  speculating  widows 
and  investing  orphans. 

Harlotry  and  concubinage  are  just  as  difficult  of  estimate  as 
secret  speculations.  They  are  mainly  modern  in  our  commercial 
classes.  The  leman  and  the  kept-mistress  were,  forty  years  ago,  the 
luxuries  of  the  professional  classes  and  the  hereditary  capitalist  in 
lands  or  slaves.  The  growth  of  great  commercial  fortunes,  and 
the  decreasing  horror  of  libertinism,  transferred  the  custom  of  two 
households  to  the  sons  of  trade,  proper ;  and  investments  of  this 
kind  are  now,  very  generally,  elements  of  disturbance  and  doubt 
in  the  computation  of  business  risks. 

Whilst  we  think  the  moderate  use  of  ardent  spirits  should  not 
be  weighed,  if  it  could,  in  credit  ratings,  we  concede  that  the  dual 
family  establishment  is  of  prime  significance  to  the  creditor  class. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  11 

Its  progeny  are  recklessness,  desperation,  shame,  and  ruin.  In- 
dulged in,  at  first,  as  a  contrast  to  the  even  tenor  of  conjugal  love  ; 
persisted  in  afterwards  from  a  sense  of  choosing  between  the 
evil  of  loss  and  the  disgrace  of  exposure,  but  always  a  source  of 
present  prodigality,  and  an  inducement  to  hazardous  ventures  pro- 
mising large  returns,  the  meretricious  relationship  affects  the  busi- 
ness community  more  than  all  other  causes  combined.  The  ex- 
penses of  the  admitted  home  may  be  estimated  by  the  careful 
creditor  at  all  times,  and  curtailed  by  the  debtor  in  emergencies. 
The  exactions  of  the  hidden  hospice  of  lust  are  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  imps  of  whim  and  caprice,  and  are  only  certain  to  be 
uncertain,  sure  to  be  selfish  and  profligately  persistent.  "Worse 
than  wine,  worse  than  faro,  the  hidden  liaison  corrodes  and 
crushes  the  man  of  business.  Faro  may  select  one  from  thou- 
sands to  load  with  a  special  luck ;  wine  may  make  friends  who 
shall  prove  of  service  in  the  day  of  trouble ;  but  Lais,  never  com- 
pensative, hastens  to  plant  the  poppy  of  forgetfulness  over  her 
latest  victim,  and  celebrates  his  ruin  by  advertising  it  to  his  suc- 
cessor. 

Personal  and  family  extravagance  in  dress  and  living  is  an- 
other subject  of  consideration  in  estimating  business  risks.  It  is 
undoubtedly  carried  to  great  excess,  but  it  is  under  the  restraint 
of  publicity,  and  therefore  subject  to  approximate  computation. 
It  is  not  always  voluntary  or  a  proof  of  poor  business  habits,  the 
thriftiest  and  most  prudent  often  submitting  to  it  from  necessity, 
and  making  up  for  prodigality  at  the  house  by  parsimony  at  the 
store.  Again,  is  not  this  the  era  of  show  ?  and  how  can  we  always 
be  positive  that  the  front  pew  at  the  church,  for  a  fabulous  price, 
or  the  sumptuous  entertainment,  or  the  costly  equipage,  are  not  so 
many  judicious  advertising  tricks,  and  well  calculated  to  lead  to 
business  advantages  in  extremity,  or  even  go  far  to  compensate 
for  restricted  capital  ? 

All  these  subjects  must,  in  one  form  or  another,  enter  into  the 
calculations  of  the  circumspect  seller.  They  should  be  considered 
carefully  by  the  agencies,  if  agencies  are  to  attempt  supplanting 
individual  investigation.  In  this  connection,  inquiry,  to  be  effi- 
cient, must  be  impersonal,  dispassionate,  direct  as  possible,  and 
thorough.  Is  it  ?  ]S"ot  at  all.  The  chance  phrase  of  some  chance 
acquaintance  is  picked  up  by  the  readiest  or  most  attentive  ear. 


12  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

It  may  mean  a  fast  life  with  abundant  means,  a  fast  life  without 
means,  or  a  fast  tendency,  with  the  highest  commercial  standing 
and  integrity.  To  Deacon  Sniveller,  of  the  basement,  a  Park 
outfit  is  proof  of  coming  bankruptcy  in  the  case  of  Solomon 
Lightheart,  of  the  first  floor  front.  An  equal  expenditure  for 
the  support  of  "The  Home  for  able-bodied  Pharisees"  would 
insure  a  very  different  interpretation.  What  is  mere  energy  and 
dash  to  the  critic  of  forty  years  is  dare-devil  ism  and  recklessness 
of  the  worst  kind  to  the  eye  of  sixty  or  seventy  years.  Weston, 
without  explanation,  is  only  a  "  tramp,"  and  Bennett  unexplained, 
with  his  yachts  and  wagers  and  walking  matches,  is  only  a  younger 
Jim  Mace,  with  the  Herald  newspaper  thrown  in.  So  controlling 
and  important  are  these  shallower  judgments  of  the  tattlers  of 
trade,  which  the  agencies  represent,  that  the  heartiest,  the  purest, 
and  the  financially  strongest  men  are  obliged  to  resort  to  a  self- 
protecting  hypocrisy  and  make-believe  in  their  exterior  life  and 
bearings.  From  these  persons,  too,  rather  than  from  the  straight- 
laced,  churches  receive  their  best  aids  and  charity  finds  her  most 
munificent  benefactors.  By  a  further  and  parallel  necessity,  almost 
every  great  business  scandal  and  fraud  recently  broached  and 
practised  has  had  a  religious  phase  to  it.  Howard's  Washington 
Steeple  rested  on  the  empty  vaults  of  the  Freedrnan's  Savings 
Bank.  The  Clergyman's  Retreat  in  Lake  Erie  prefigured  the  bank- 
rupt glories  of  Ogontz.  And  almost  all  the  wildest  or  least-prin- 
cipled of  the  disciples  of  Mammon,  from  Fisk  and  Gould  to 
Cooke  and  Clews,  raised  temples  to  Christ  in  veriest  mockery  of 
the  iNazarene. 

We  have  indicated  a  few  of  the  obstacles  to  any  kind  of  accu- 
racy in  business  estimates ;  we  proceed  to  notice  the  one  above 
all  others  which  produces  inaccuracy  and  injustice.  Any  one  who 
has  read  the  reports  of  the  agencies  knows  that  they  are  suffused 
with  the  essential  essence  of  the  spirit  of  Cant.  Liquorish  praise 
or  deadly  ichor  distinguishes  them.  That  set  of  men  who  may  be 
classed  as  the  old  maids  of  the  sex,  whose  spleen  is  greater  than 
their  judgment,  and  their  active  malice  greater  than  both,  are  the 
fact  and  surmise  gatherers  and  the  true  authors  of  these  under- 
mining  commentaries.'  Their  test  is  a  simple  one  :  Is  he  a  church 
member  in  good  standing  ?  Does  he  subscribe  to  the  Tract  So- 
ciety, direct  a  Sunday-school,  help  in  a  choir  ?  In  either  event  a 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  13 

cheery  certificate  passes.  Lesser  claims  to  piety  are  also  recognized, 
but  in  a  descending  scale.  An  "  A  1  "  heathen  will  generally  be 
found  to  bear,  in  the  private  archives,  a  worse  financial  character 
than  the  struggling  "  brother." 

It  is  not  alone  the  tendency  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  politic 
business  men  to  anticipate  hostile  cant  by  acquiring  a  church 
membership.  The  owners  and  city  and  country  reporters  of  the 
agencies  affect  the  same  judicious  show  of  moral  pretence. 
McKillop,  of  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.,  acts  as  pastor  to  a  congre- 
gation at  Flatbush,  L.  I.,  in  a  church  partially  erected  and  wholly 
supported  by  him.  The  admitted  reason  of  his  ministration  is  to 
save  the  expenses  of  a  regular  clergyman.  The  profane  allege 
that  it  is  to  preserve,  in  fullest  opportunity  of  weekly  iteration, 
the  standing  advertisement  of  his  own  godliness  and  contributions. 
Tupper,  of  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  carries  his  mortified  body — at- 
tenuated by  many  fasts  and  vigils — across  the  rapt  visions  of  the 
Seventh  Avenue  United  Presbyterian  congregation.  Anderson, 
of  the  game  agency,  is  an  active  Methodist  and  hot  revivalist. 
Wiman  was  a  rigid  Presbyterian  in  Toronto,  a  Baptist  in  Mon- 
treal, and  is  now  an  Episcopalian  on  Staten  Island.  It  used  to  be 
the  pride  and  boast  of  Tappan,  the  foster-father  of  the  system, 
that  he  retained  no  man  in  his  employment  who  was  not  a  church 
member,  and  who  could  not  give  the  text  of  the  Sunday  sermon. 

The  device  is  a  natural  one.  In  all  ages  the  shrines  of  piety 
possessed  a  special  attraction  to  the  most  adventurous  spirits. 
Silly  nobles,  weak  kings,  here  and  there,  attempted  to  escape 
oblivion  by  a  stained  window,  a  tapestry-lined  chancel,  or  an  en- 
during sculpture  ;  but  the  most  lavish  givers  have  always  been  the 
boldest  getters,  from  the  Borgias  of  Florence  to  the  church- 
building  Plantagenets  and  Tudors  of  England.  The  comment 
holds  good  in  our  own  time.  The  church  not  raised  on  the  profit 
of  adulterated  food,  watered  stocks,  or  a  well-timed  "  corner"  sel- 
dom or  never  rises  outside  the  granger  districts  of  our  God-fearing 
society.  Science  is  the  beneficiary  of  the  successful  literary  or 
professional  man.  Humanity  or  philanthropy  attracts  the  ingots 
of  the  honest  and  humane.  The  religion  of  rewards  and  punish- 
ments secures  the  greater  portion  of  the  deceitful  favors  of  the 
profitably  time-serving  and  advantageously  corrupt  of  every  trade 
and  calling. 


14  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

In  these  church  associations,  mainly,  the  agencies  procure  their 
private  history  of  business  men.  You  may  live  long  next  door 
to  a  city  merchant  without  knowing  his  private  history.  Belong 
to  the  same  church  with  him,  or  know  a  brother  who  belongs  to  it, 
and  your  greatest  difficulty  will  soon  be  to  cut  off  or  lessen  the 
flow  of  scandal  which  the  connection  pours  by  unknown  processes 
out  of  his  home  and  into  yours,  and  vice  versa. 

The  agencies  dabble  in  these  waters  of  bitterness  for  want  of 
better.  They  must  accept  the  measures  in  which  they  are  meted 
out  or  go  unrefreshed.  The  blind,  the  halt,  and  the  lame,  in  the 
outside  world's  opinion,  here  drop  their  defects  and  crutches  and 
go  forth  new  men.  The  hearty,  and  upright,  and  straightforward, 
in  the  outside  world's  opinion,  are  admonished  and  soon  made  to 
feel  their  unworthiness.  The  results  to  character  are  astounding 
j  udged  from  a  non-church  standard ;  but  they  are  certain,  and  con- 
tribute more  to  the  tone  and  temper  of  agency  opinion  and  litera- 
ture than  the  inquisitiveness  of  the  press,  the  disclosures  of  the 
courts,  or  the  loquacity  of  traders,  combined. 

Let  us  not  be  misunderstood :  we  make  no  war  on  the  grand 
inquisition  of  the  churches.  We  merely  inquire  of  the  business 
men  of  the  country  if  they  are  content  to  be  judged  by  the 
knaves  and  hypocrites  who  may  enter  into  these  leagues  for  the 
purpose  of  more  recondite  fraud  or  the  more  facile  satisfaction 
of  malice. 

The  truly  good  members  are  not  the  tale-bearers  and  slanderers. 
They  are  too  busy  serving  God  to  injure  their  fellows.  But  the 
splenetic,  the  suspicious,  the  sore-headed  press  forward  in  the  work 
of  slander  and  detraction,  and  assume  and  hold  the  places  fitted 
for  modest  merit  and  true  piety.  The  narrow-minded  zealot ;  the 
addle-pated  professor  of  some  pet  social  fanaticism ;  the  knave 
who  fawns  on  the  prosperous  only  to  assail  the  aspiring  with 
more  successful  malignity :  who  would,  who  should,  be  content 
to  be  judged  by  these  ?  or,  being  judged,  who  would  submit  to 
have  these  horned  beetles  and  stinging  wasps  of  the  social  hive 
pass  current  for  the  correct  in  conduct,  the  best  in  manners,  and 
the  highest  in  business  dealings  ?  Into  these  church  reservoirs  of 
news,  backbitings,  profitable  malice,  and  passionate  phariseeism 
the  agencies  go  for  material  for  opinion.  They  contribute  the 
" facts"  often,  the  "tone"  always;  and  the  agencies,  from  neces- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  15 

sity  or  design,  receive  the  darkest  pigments  in  their  reports,  and 
the  most  bleaching  lotions  as  well,  from  the  dripping  of  the 
sanctuaries. 

The  reader  can  estimate  the  chances  of  accuracy  in  the  pre- 
sence of  these  complex  difficulties  resting  in  the  very  nature  of 
the  agencies'  investigations,  or  arising  out  of  the  initial  efforts  to 
prosecute  them.  He  can,  we  think,  already  agree  with  us  in  our 
first  proposition,  that  the  agency  pretence  of  aiding  trade  by  correct 
estimates  of  credit  and  capital  is  sadly  marred  at  the  very  thresh- 
old of  our  criticism;  and  that  between  elements  which  would 
embarrass  and  deceive  the  very  best  individual  examination  into  a 
man's  circumstances,  and  others  which  go  merely  to  disturb  the 
transmitting  medium,  the  agencies  are  powerless  to  intelligently 
advise  risks  or  to  regulate  credits. 


16  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER    III. 

FURTHER    DIFFICULTIES    OF    THE    SYSTEM     CONSIDERED   :      THE 
AGENCIES  CREATING  THEM. 

GIVEN  a  perfectly  honorable  management,  a  mercantile  or  com- 
mercial agency  such  as  McKillop  &  JSprague  Co.,  Dun,  Barlow 
&  Co.,  and  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Sons  possesses  certain  inherent  de- 
fects. No  man  can  serve  two  masters.  An  agency  cannot,  in  the 
nature  of  the  thing,  take  pay  from  the  buying  and  selling  classes 
and  do  full  justice  to  both.  It  must  be  two-faced,  under  the  opera- 
tion of  its  conflicting  purpose.  The  Western  subscriber  who  pur- 
chases imported  goods  on  credit  in  New- York  finds  the  seller  a 
subscriber  here.  The  New- York  subscriber  who  goes  to  Boston, 
Lowell,  Philadelphia,  or  Cincinnati  for  particular  lines  of  manufac- 
ture, finds  the  seller  a  subscriber  in  those  cities.  Vendor  or  ven- 
dee, both  pay  the  agency,  and  the  agency  must  strike  an  accommo- 
dating mean  to  secure  their  support,  or,  to  be  fully  just  to  one, 
must  take  the  other's  pay  while  it  depreciates  or  destroys  his  re- 
sponsibility. The  first  consequence  is  a  natural  and  inevitable 
one.  To  get  and  keep  subscribers  the  agencies  must  approximate 
their  opinions  of  themselves  (when  it  reports  them  as  they  really 
are)  ;  and,  efficiently  for  others,  it  must  depart  from  what  they  con- 
ceive themselves  entitled  to,  and  incur  the  loss  of  patronage.  Be- 
tween the  caution  of  the  seller,  which  always  exacts  a  large  allow- 
ance of  surplus  assured  assets,  and  the  halcyon  opinion  of  the  buy- 
er, who  always  places  a  flattering  rating  on  his  own  resources,  the 
agency  finds  its  first  difficulty,  and  enters,  in  self-defence,  on  its  first 
deception.  As  it  takes  pay  from  both  it  endeavors  to  satisfy  both. 
To  cater  to  the  seller's  sense  of  caution  it  indulges  in  cheap  general- 
ities and  crams  of  business  wisdom.  To  a  grain  of  even  hypothet- 
ical statement  it  adds  a  pound  of  flimsy  phrases  which  may  mean 
anything  or  nothing  to  the  eager  and  suspicious  inquirer.  The  rat- 
ings dance  up  or  down  like  colored  balls  in  a  toy  fountain,  as  the 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  17 

stream  of  drivel  rises  from  "  good  for  a  reasonable  credit "  up  to 
"  good  for  all  engagements,  but  of  little  reputation  in  the  trade, 
and  worth  watching,"  and  falls  again  to  "  the  man  has  capital  to 
some  amount,  which  cannot  be  ascertained,"  or  "  pays  promptly, 
but  the  money  is  presumed  to  come  from  his  father,  who  failed 
in  business  last  year  and  is  supposed  to  work  on  a  salary." 

To  add  to  the  Delphic  doubtfulness  and  wary  inconsequence  and 
attenuated  meanings  of  these  reports,  a  language  of  symbols  is 
adopted,  where  the  Arabian  Alphabet  and  Roman  Numerals  do  ser- 
vice in  affording  lurking-places  for  ignorant  guessing  ;  labyrinths 
of  inference  where  the  seeker  of  information  may  wander  in  end- 
less mazes,  lost ;  covered  ways  where  character  and  credit  may 
be  "  knocked  in  the  head  "  or  not  with  sublime  indifference  and 
benign  impartiality — the  end  and  object  of  all  the  finesse  being  sim- 
ply to  shield  and  shroud  in  a  twilight  haze  the  tricks  and  devices 
by  which  wholesalers  and  retailers,  buyers  and  sellers,  are  all  ex- 
ploited, and  neither  benefited,  intelligently  rated,  nor  intelligently 
advised. 

This  is  not  merely  an  intermittent  vice  of  the  system  of  at- 
tempting to  reconcile  two  irreconcilable  interests  ;  to  extend  and 
preserve  a  clientage  in  practically  antagonistic  classes  :  it  is  the 
first  and  insurmountable  consequence  of  the  enlargement  of  the 
system  beyond  the  service  of  the  selling  classes,  and  its  per- 
version, for  the  simple  purpose  of  clear  gain,  to  every  one  who 
will  buy  a  reference-book  and  advance  a  subscription. 

A  second  intrinsic  and  insurmountable  difficulty  of  the  system  is 
the  remoteness'of  the  persons  affected,  whether  as  seekers  or  givers 
of  credit,  from  the  information  giving  and  receiving  centres.  We 
do  not  mean  remoteness  in  space — for  the  telegraph,  if  parsimony 
did  not  prevent  its  use,  might  be  made  to  overcome  that  element 
of  inconvenience — but  remoteness,  in  degree,  from  the  original 
sources  of  information.  The  chief  office  or  district  one,  or  the 
manager  of  cither,  has  never  personally  met  five  hundred  of  the 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  persons  who  figure  in  the  agency  pages 
and  reports  ;  of  this  five  hundred  the  true  financial  position  of  a 
single  one  has  never  been  personally  inquired  into  and  determined 
by  the  person  in  charge  of  the  chief  office  or  district  offices.  The 
collection  of  names  and  pretended  data  in  the  agency  books  is  sim- 
ply the  result  of  chance  contributions  of  intelligence  from,  generally, 


13  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

the  least  self-respecting  and  least-liked  man  in  his  own  community  : 
self -reporting,  which  is  taken  for  granted,  if  joined  with  any 
professed  interest  in  or  service  for  the  agency,  or  is  accepted  with 
thanks  because  costless,  and  merely  toned  down  with  a  judicious 
respect  for  the  benefactor  ;  or  the  reprinted  and  revamped  ac- 
cumulated odds  and  ends  of  business  directories  and  former  or 
other  agency  reports,  of  ten  to  thirty  years1  standing.  Xot  a  par- 
ticle of  this  agglomerate  of  names,  figures,  guesses,  self-praise,  dis- 
praise, malice  has  been  subjected  to  critical  examination  by  the 
agency  managers,  in  the  first  instance.  They  collect  it  in  Xcw- 
York  from  the  country,  receive  and  dump  it  into  print,  and  trust 
to  luck  whether  it  shall  ever  be  inquired  into  ;  or,  if  inquired 
about,  shall  be  powerless  for  good  or  evil  because  of  its  vagueness; 
or,  if  erroneous  and  harmful,  that  it  will  be  viewed  as  an  attempt 
in  the  interest  of  trade  to  be  commended  or  overlooked. 

Now,  while  it  is  manifest  local  sources  of  information  are  the 
very  best  and  the  only  reliable  means  of  data,  persons  in  the  vici- 
nage, even  if  in  high  standing,  are  the  most  likely  to  be  passionate 
and  prejudiced  estimators  of  its  value  and  importance ;  and  the 
reader  can  readily  judge  of  the  original  value  of  data  furnished  by 
unpaid  volunteer  censors,  inquisitors  invited  to  judicial  functions 
by  haphazard  selections  from  a  lawyer's  directory  and  their  own 
reference-books,  or  the  eager  witnessing  of  some  competitor  in  the 
same  line  of  business  u  over  the  way."  The  volunteer  informer  is 
sure  to  have  a  reason  of  his  own  in  meddling  with  his  neighbor's 
affairs.  Human  experience  disqualifies  *  him  as  an  unsupervised 
collector  of  facts  or  opinions.  The  substantial  men  in  a  commu- 
nity never  sink  to  this  work.  It  can  only  be  performed  or  tender- 
ed, therefore,  by  the  ill-at.-ease,  struggling,  acrid  spirits  of  the  place 
— the  meddlesome,  mischief -making  busy-bodies,  whose  moving- 
springs  are  envy,  greed,  un charitableness,  or  disappointed  ambition. 

The  requested  legal  inquisitor  generally  bears  the  same  relation 
to  his  profession  that  the  volunteer  informer  bears  to  society  at 
large.  He  is  never  the  leading  man,  never  among  the  leading  men 
of  the  local  bar,  if  the  town  have  three  thousand  or  over  inhabi- 
tants. In  small  places,  he  may  be  among  the  least  engaged  of  the 
two  or  three  who  can  survive  in  such  restricted  pasturage.  But 
he  is  sure  to  be  asked,  either  because  he  is  not  engaged  in  lucrative 
litigated  practice  (for  such  a  man  would  be  too  much  related  to 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  19 

and  associated  with  the  business  men,  and  too  self-respectful  to 
speak),  or  because  he  is  engaged  in  some  accessory  employment, 
like  that  of  a  notary,  commissioner,  etc.,  which  indicates  in  itself, 
to  the  legal  profession,  a  struggle  for  life  on  the  stray  planks  and 
spars  where  some  higher  purpose,  some  nobler  ambition,  went 
down  in  storm  or  darkness;  or,  finally,  because  some  satisfactorily 
rated  subscriber  engages  him  for  cheap  collection  work,  at  low 
prices,  knows  him  best,  relies  on  his  friendly  obsequiousness,  and 
refers  to  him  in  furtherance  of  his  own  ends,  and,  perhaps,  for  bet- 
ter injury  to  his  most  hated  competitors.  Postmasters,  postmis- 
tresses, and  medical  doctors,  whose  names  are  readily  found  in  the 
post-office  or  town  directories,  are  also  picked  out  at  random,  and 
transferred  by  the  agencies  to  what  they  term  their  "  Correspond- 
ents' List,"  which  is  drawn  upon  when  necessary.  As  these  per- 
sons act  without  pay,  their  punctuality  is  the  only  qualification  re- 
garded. These  are  the  only  sources  of  supply  possessed  or  used  by  the 
agencies  outside  of  New-  York  and  the  larger  cities.  Their  only 
recommendation  is  their  cheapness,  for  they  cost  the  agency  no- 
thing ;  and  it  is  from  these  sources,  and  long  accumulations  of  their 
tinged,  muddy,  and  credit-destroying  contributions,  that  the  agen- 
cies pretend  to  dole  out,  at  from  $150  to  $5000  yearly,  the  elixir 
of  a  lusty  business  life,  and  the  healing  water  of  business  salvation ! 
The  agencies,  in  fact,  do  not  know  the  people  inquired  about ; 
they  do  not  know  the  persons  from  whom  they  inquire  about  them ; 
they  do  not  know,  and  can  never  learn,  except  through  the  intelli- 
gence of  a  libel-suit  or  the  crash  of  a  bankruptcy,  whether  or  not 
these  persons  report  falsely  or  only  a  tittle  of  the  truth ;  and  it  is 
this  unrevised,  unauthenticated  hearsay  of  hearsay,  this  secret 
cloaca  of  the  most  distressed  and  desperate  of  the  community— 
unfiltered,  undeodorized,  and  infected — that  the  agencies  pretend  to 
be  the  product  of  their  paid  attaches,  examination  of  original  re- 
cords, and  the  impartial  judicial  result  of  a  process  of  searching 
examination  pursued  under  their  own  painstaking  and  dispassion- 
ate supervision.  Judged  by  every  personal  test,  it  is  just  the  anti- 
thesis of  their  representations.  Indeed,  it  may  be  conceded  that 
the  agencies  could  not  do  otherwise ;  the  expense  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted by  record,  and  keeping  acquainted  weekly,  even  with  the 
fluctuations  of  business  men  in  the  city  of  ]STew-York  alone,  would 
exhaust  the  resources  of  the  strongest  agency.  It  is  not  attempt- 


20  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

ed;  it  could  not  be  effected,  if  attempted,  by  less  than  a  million  of 
capital,  confined  to  a  single  city  ;  and  hence  the  second  radical  and 
insurmountable  difficulty  results,  as  we  have  noted,  in  not  alone  a 
necessarily  vague  and  indefinite,  but  a  prejudiced,  passionate,  and 
purely  haphazard  expression  of  what  one  person,  with  motives  all 
unknown  to  the  agencies,  says  of  one  or  more  other  persons,  with 
means  or  character  unknown  to  the  agency  or  its  office  employees, 
who  cook  the  books  and  dish  up  the  reports.  The  work  of  revis- 
ing the  financial  standing  and  credit  of  the  business  men  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  which  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  claim  to  be 
done  by  their  own  travellers  four  times  a  year,  so  as  to  render  their 
quarterly  reference-book  of  some  value,  would  require  the  aid  of 
1424  men  constantly  employed  as  travelling  reporters  only.  If  their 
entire  staff  of  paid  employees  (numbering less  than  500),  from  errand- 
boys  to  managers,  in  all  their  branches  in  America,  worked  in  that 
capacity  twelve  months  in  the  year,  a  period  of  not  less  than  three 
consecutive  years  must  elapse  before  the  affairs  of  each  trader  could 
undergo  a  single  personal  investigation  !  During  all  this  time  their 
offices  should  be  deserted  and  closed,  and  the  work  of  soliciting 
subscriptions  wholly  abandoned.  The  same  argument  is  relatively 
true  of  the  other  agencies.  Besides  these  inherent  difficulties,  the 
avarice  of  the  proprietors  of  the  agencies,  assisted  and  encouraged 
by  the  indifference  or  gullibility  of  the  trading  public,  has  fastened 
several  additional  causes  of  difficulty  and  embarrassment  on  the 
original  project.  The  publication  and  sale,  for  profit,  of  yearly, 
half-yearly,  and  quarterly  reference-books,  is  one  of  the  first  and 
worst  of  these.  This  is  a  plain  temptation  to  the  dishonest  or 
doubtful  trader  to  secure  the  agency  for  his  own  purposes,  since 
he  is  apprised  of  what  he  is  rated  at,  and  is  naturally  anxious  to 
propitiate  the  critic  of  his  solvency,  or  actively  mislead  the  impugn- 
er  of  his  integrity.  "When  the  rating  is  an  agreeable  surprise, 
the  trader  naturally  encourages  the  enterprise.  When  it  is  not 
favorable,  he  sets  to  work  to  make  it  so  by  propitiating  the  pre- 
tended arbiters.  Failing  in  this,  by  oversight  or  otherwise,  in  one 
year,  he  turns  to  the  publications  of  some  of  the  competing  agen- 
cies for  the  next.  The  consequence  is  seen  in  the  contradictory 
ratings  given  of  the  same  person  or  firm  by  two  or  more  agencies 
for  the  same  year  or  a  series  of  years.  When  the  ratings  are  not 
copied  from  each  other  by  the  rival  companies,  the  fluctuations  of 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  21 

reported  standing  and  credit  are  largely  produced  by  these  active 
methods  of  interference.  The  observer  sees  one  needle  violently 
recording  changes  of  direction,  while  the  other  is  fixedly  pointing 
to  a  settled  course  of  prosperous  voyaging ;  while  one  pilot  shouts 
"  all's  well,"  the  other  shrieks  "  breakers  ahead ;"  and  while  the  in- 
terested inquirer  watches  the  whirling  indicator,  and  listens  in  doubt 
and  amazement  to  the  confusing  assurances,  he  becomes  only  certain 
of  one  thing — that  he  has  learned  nothing  more  valuable  than  his 
conviction  that  "  all  hands,"  except  himself  and  others  financially 
interested  in  the  outcome  of  the  venture,  are  busily  and  profitably 
occupied  in  trading  on  its  purely  speculative  features.  As  a  pru- 
dent man  he  will  trust  to  neither  ;  as  a  cautious  man  he  will  trea- 
sure his  experience  in  his  own  breast ;  as  both,  he  will  take  care 
not  to  attract  attention  to  his  discovery,  but  leave  the  public  to  find 
out  the  secret  for  themselves  by  a  saddening  realization  of  the  as- 
sault on  their  judgment  and  pockets.  He  may  be  pleased  to 
read  the  truth  in  these  pages;  but  if  he  be  wanting  in  public  spirit 
and  a  leek-eater,  he  will  renew  his  subscription  and  buy  the  next 
reference-book  ;  and  the  agencies  will  go  on  making  money  by  the 
yearly  traffic  in  the  fears  or  credulity  of  the  trading  public. 

Another  indication  of  the  determined  greed  of  the  agencies, 
and  one  also  largely  injurious  and  destructive  to  any  policy  of 
learning  the  true  standing  of  business  men,  is  the  development  of 
Collection  bureaux  in  connection  with  them,  and  owned  and  con- 
trolled by  them.  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son,  alone,  have  not  yet 
adopted  this  specialty.  The  subscriber  who  entrusts  his  claims  to 
the  agency  for  collection  advertises,  T)y  so  much,  his  doubtful  or 
valueless  credits  ;  suffers  from  having  them  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  cheapest,  least  expert  and  self-respectful  lawyer,  such  as  we 
have  indicated ;  and  in  very  many  instances,  in  the  h'ands  of  the 
attorney  recommended  to  the  agency  by  the  creditor's  debtor,  or 
only  self -introduced  to  the  agencies  by  his  own  necessities  and 
want  of  responsibility.  Friendly  delays,  inefficient  prosecution, 
the  need  of  employing  additional  counsel  in  case  of  litigation,  arc 
a  few  of  the  earlier  consequences  to  the  creditor.  The  later  ones 
are :  compromises,  cooked  up  by  a  man  capable  of  becoming  an 
eavesdropper  on  his  neighbor  for  the  mere  love  of  the  employment, 
and,  therefore,  capable  of  being  bribed  to  produce  them ;  bank- 
ruptcies precipitated,  in  which  the  attorney,  as  attorney  for  the 


22  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

moving  creditor,  will  be  paid  out  of  the  debtors  estate  three  or 
live  times  as  much  as  he  could  have  collected  from  his  client,  the 
creditor,  in  case  of  collecting  the  full  amount  of  the  claim  ;  or  a 
return  of  the  claims,  particularly  if  unliquidated,  with  the  pur- 
chased assurance  that  they  would  cost  more  than  they  are  worth. 
The  scheme  of  collection,  however,  although  of  no  value  to  credi- 
tors, except  in  cases  where  the  debtor  is  eager  to  pay,  and  the 
laughing-stock  of  the  bar  in  every  other  case,  serves  one  purpose 
for  the  agency.  It  enables  them  to  call  on  the  attorney,  who 
hopes  to  secure  any  chance  patronage  which  they  may  have  to 
dispense,  for  his  opinion  of  any  citizen  in  his  vicinity,  suddenly  in- 
quired about,  and,  as  it  costs  nothing,  this  is  reason  enough  with 
the  agencies  for  its  introduction  and  existence.  Its  damaging  in- 
fluence to  the  selling  classes  is  easily  traced.  Whom  this  incom- 
petent and  always  uninfluential  limb  of  the  law  is  acquainted  with 
personally  or  through  the  medium  of  a  douceur  are  discovered  to 
be  rated  far  above  their  means ;  whom  he  dislikes  or  is  not  011 
profitable  relations  with,  are  marked  down  ;  and  the  business  pub- 
lic have  to  bear  the  consequences  of  the  latest  devices  of  the 
agencies  to  secure  the  opinion  of  the  only  man  in  the  community 
who  sets  no  value  on  his  pretended  knowledge  except  what  he 
can  make  out  of  it  by  indirection.  "  Like  master  like  man."  Why 
should  he  trouble  himself,  for  a  possibility  of  patronage,  to  ac- 
quire by  a  laborious  search  the  true  resources  of  a  merchant,  when 
he  knows  that  the  agency,  which  receives  immense  remuneration, 
does  not  condescend  to  pay  out  any  portion  in  securing  it  ?  He 
forwards  his  gratuitous  guess,  or  his  bribed  opinion ;  finds  satis- 
faction in  gratifying  a  spite  or  making  a  point  for  a  crony ;  and 
turns  to  negotiate  for  some  fire  or  life  insurance  company,  which 
might  occupy  the  talents  or  reward  the  industry  not  illustrated  so 
much  in  contests  in  court  as  in  applications  to  the  Governor  for 
vacant  notaryships,  or  in  wire-pullings  for  some  justice-of-the- 
peace  nomination. 

We  have  sketched  the  intrinsic  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the 
usefulness  of  any  mercantile  or  commercial  agencies  whatever ; 
indicated  the  accidental  impediments  to  usefulness  added  by  the 
avarice  of  their  managers;  and  cleared  the  road  for  that  detailed 
and  more  searching  analysis  of  their  interior  workings  which  it  will 
be  the  province  of  the  following  chapters  to  enforce  by  precept 
and  example. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  23 


CHAPTER  IY. 

WHAT  THE  AGENCIES  EECEIVE  :  WHAT  THEY  DO  FOR  IT,  AND 
HOW  IT  IS  DONE,  HOW  THEY  THRIVE  WITHOUT  DESERVING. 
"THE  HEALTH-LIFT,"  AND  "MOTH-EXTERMINATOR." 

THE  three  agencies,  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son,  McKillop  & 
Spraguc  Co.,  and  Dim,  Barlow  &  Co.,  having  their  principal 
offices  in  New- York,  claim,  together,  some  150  branch  offices  in 
the  United  States  and  Canada.  Each  endeavors  to  start  as  many 
self-supporting  and  paying  branches  as  it  can;  neither  ever  con- 
tinues a  losing  branch  "  for  the  promotion  of  trade,"  that  is,  the 
advantage  of  subscribers  in  other  places.  In  all  the  principal  cities 
the  agencies  are  found  competing  for  local  subscriptions  ;  in  those 
of  small  population  they  sometimes  try  the  experiment,  but  desist 
when  the  receipts  fail  to  justify  the  expense.  The  three  institu- 
tions extract  nearly  $8,000,000  yearly  from  the  merchants,  manu- 
facturers, and  traders  of  both  countries. 

This  enormous  drain  on  the  resources  of  the  business  com- 
munity has  not  been  going  on  for  more  than  a  few  years ;  but  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  since  1841  more  than  $60,000,000  have  been  col- 
lected by  the  present  agencies  or  their  predecessors  in  the  same 
line  of  effort.  Allowing  for  the  payment  of  salaries,  printing  re- 
ports, rents,  etc.,  a  net  profit  of  between  $20,000,000  and  $30,000,- 
000  must  have  been  received  and  divided  among  the  proprietors  ! 

One  would  expect  to  find  some  very  heavy  items  of  disburse- 
ment for  procuring  the  information  which  produces  this  royal 
revenue.  Surprise  will  become  wonder  when  we  assert  that,  out- 
side of  the  city  of  New- York,  where  reporting  and  subscription- 
getting  go  hand-in-hand,  the  agencies,  together,  have  not  spent 
$50,000  for  collecting  information  which  .they  dispense  with  such 
magnificent  profit,  and  that  even  this  sum  was  largely  spent  in  the 
effort  to  get  subscribers,  and  not  a  dollar  of  it,  purely  and  simply,  to 
learn  the  business  standing  of  business  men !  In  other  words,  the 


24  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

whole  aim  and  object  of  the  agencies  are  to  expend  only  to  profit 
themselves,  and  they  care  nothing  for  the  acquisition  of  true  and 
useful  information,  if  it  must  be  costly,  for  its  own  sake.  Their 
expenses  are  incidental  to  the  receipt  and  disbursement  of  their 
revenue  ;  nothing,  or  next  to  nothing,  is  applied,  outside  of  New- 
York  and  the  principal  cities,  to  earning  or  deserving  it.  If  a 
subscriber  wants  definite  intelligence,  he  must  pay  for  telegraph- 
ing :  the  agencies  will  only  pay  for  postage  if  the  applicant  can 
afford  to  wait  from  jive  to  thirty  days  for  an  answer  by  mail. 
Whatever  they  can  get  for  nothing  they  sell ;  what  they  would 
be  required  to  pay  for  is  never  purchased. 

For  instance,  if  H.  H.  Shufeldt  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  or  Smith, 
Angus  &  Co.,  of  Milwaukee,  desire  to  inquire  about  the  credit  and 
standing  of  M.  J.  Cummings  or  Irwin  &  Sloan,  grain  merchants 
in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  the  agency's  part  in  supplying  the  information 
entails  an  expenditure  of  exactly  12  cents.  The  application  is 
first  made  to  the  Chicago  or  Milwaukee  offices,  which  pay  each 
from  $50,000  to  $70,000  yearly  profit  on  subscriptions  alone  ;  either 
office  posts  a  letter  to  the  Syracuse  branch,  which  office  either  re- 
plies by  returning  the  information  on  its  record  (which  may  be  one 
or  more  years  old),  or  mails  a  query  to  E.  M.  Fort,  the  unpaid  Oswego 
correspondent,  whose  particular  qualification  for  answering  is  that 
he  is  a  coal  dealer,  doing  business  only  as  agent,  having  recently 
no  business  of  his  own,  for  reasons  currently  understood.  If  the 
letter  is  sent  to  Fort,  he  replies  at  his  leisure  to  the  Syracuse 
office,  which,  in  turn,  mails  its  opinion  of  Mr.  Fort's  opinion,  con- 
cealing his'name,  to  the  Chicago  or  Milwaukee  branch,  as  the  case 
may  have  been.  After  this  pilgrim's  progress  the  wise  result  is 
communicated  to  the  original  inquirer,  who  meantime  may  have 
had  the  luck  to  either  have  lost  a  good  customer  or  to  have  escaped 
the  possibility  of  being  deceived  into  trusting  a  bad  one.  In  this 
process,  it  must  be  apparent  to  the  reader,  that  the  agency  would  not 
presume  to  inquire  from  a  person  or  firm  of  first-class  business 
principles,  and  only  imposes  the  loss  of  time  on  one  whom  they 
have  already  favored  beyond  his  deserts,  or  who  expects  they  will 
do  so.  This  illustrates  the  role  of  the  commercial  Volunteer  cor- 
respondent. 

Now  let  us  take  the  course  pursued  in  the  instance  of  the  At- 
torney-detective-correspondent, whose  sole  compensation  is  the 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  23 

hope  of  having  claims  sent  to  him  for  collection,  and  being  repre- 
sented by  the  agency  as  the  most  reliable  and  brightest  legal  lumi- 
nary of  that  neighborhood.  Suppose  Richardson  &  Co.,  of  St. 
Louis,  or  A.  Thomson  &  Co.,  of  New-Orleans,  or  Drexel,  Morgan 
&  Co.,  Eaton  &  Cole,  and  J.  M.  Thorburn  &  Co.,  of  New- York, 
inquire  in  the  New- York  or  local  offices  for  the  antecedents  of 
Martin  F.  Braisted  &  Co.,  bankers,  New- York  City,  and  it  tran- 
spires that  one  of  that  firm  formerly  lived  in  Westchester  County, 
N.  Y.,  the  agency  drops  a  letter  (return  postage,  6  cents)  to  James 
P.  Sanders,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  their  reliable  attorney  and  legal 
luminary  aforesaid,  who,  in  reply,  retails  whatever  the  glibbest 
tongue  may  tell  him  or  the  least  laborious  investigation  may 
result  in.  Of  course,  an  examination  of  the  county  records  is  not 
thought  of,  nor  is  any  other  source  than  rumor  consulted ;  for 
remitted  claims  are  few  and  far  between  in  Yonkers,  and  shoe- 
leather  must  be  saved  for  respectable  intermittent  appearances  in 
justice  courts. 

Just  here  it  is  proper  to  add  that  the  agencies'  habit  of 
recommendation  cuts  both  ways.  No  attorney  is  recommended 
to  subscribers  or  others  who  is  not  a  correspondent,  although  the 
agency  will  unblushingly  deny  the  fact,  and  the  inquirer  is 
refused  the  opportunity  of  choosing  the  generally  better  and  abler 
men  at  the  local  bar,  who  will  not  condescend  to  resort  to  such  an 
association  for  a  practice. 

It  may  be  said  this  course  is  not  in  accordance  with  a  true 
economy,  for  they  must  expect  to  be  found  out  some  time,  or  be- 
come generally  discredited,  and  business  men  are  not  apt  to  con- 
tinue paying  for  nothing.  The  suggestion  would  have  force  if 
applied  as  a  test  to  any  business  involving  an  exchange  of  a  real 
commodity  whose  defects  could  arid  would  be  discovered  by  every 
buyer  in  every  place  ;  but  it  has  no  analogy  to  the  case  of  an 
enterprise  which  2>ossesses  tlie  coercive  power  of  rating  every  man 
in  the  community  as  its  managers  or  clerics  may  see  jit. 

To  fully  understand  the  agencies  we  must  always  bear  this  fact 
in  mind : — that  they  practice  an  exceptional  business,  with  excep- 
tional means  of  affecting  the  purse  or  the  pride  of  every  man 
whose  name  they  choose  to  put  into  print.  To  appreciate  the 
consequences  wTe  must  remember  that  human  nature  is  a  limited 
quantity,  and  that  whoever  can  do  what  the  agencies  can  do  by 


26  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

rating  and  printing — to  say  nothing  of  private  reports — will  al- 
ways find  more  dupes  or  sycophants  than  assailants. 

If  a  dozen  palpable  errors  are  discovered  in  the  reports  by  a 
business  man  in  an  interior  town,  he  concludes  that  they  occur 
through  the  partiality  or  cupidity  of  the  local  correspondent — 
objects  to  apply  the  experience  to  the  whole  field  of  agency  re- 
porting— and  determines  that,  since  error  and  falsehood  are  so  easily 
passed  for  truth  and  accuracy,  he  had  better  join  the  enterprise, 
and  purchase  a  favorable  rating  or  guard  against  an  arrantly  false 
one.  He  does  not  buy  or  sell  on  the  agency  dicta  /  but  he  de- 
termines to  join  the  vast  array  of  approved  souls  whom  he  finds 
translated  by  a  subscription  into  the  higher  heaven  of  business 
beatification,  and  to  avoid  the  fate  of  the  less  thoughtful  and 
prudent,  who  are  sent  to  the  limbo  of  mercantile  discredit. 

The  errors  of  the  agencies  in  this  manner,  far  from  being  de- 
terrents to  patronage,  are  most  urgent  and  active  inducements  to 
patronage.  Thousands  of  honest  and  reliable  men  subscribe  in 
self-defence;  other  thousands  subscribe  for  utilizing  the  aids 
which  such  a  system  supplies  to  contemplated  fraud.  Between  both 
classes,  the  lists  increase  with  a  growing  rapidity,  and  the  example 
is  only  lost  on  the  strongest  minds  or  the  strongest  capitalists. 
Suppose  a  business  man  is  convinced  of  the  inutility  of  the  insti- 
tutions, and  carefully  avoids  contributing  to  them.  They  rate 
him  notwithstanding.  They  rate  his  competitors.  At  some  point 
his  interests  will  be  found  to  conflict  with  his  opinions.  The 
agencies  have  an  additional  subscriber,  if  not  a  convert. 

Another  consideration  is  also  operative.  As  business  fraud  is 
best  effected  by  means  of  a  credit-giving  agency  which  pretends 
to  be  indifferent,  and  circulates  largely  where  applicants  are  other- 
wise unknown,  the  knave  and  swindler  know  where  to  find  an 
ally  under  the  mask  of  an  enemy.  Their  own  opinion  of  them- 
selves would  not  go  far  or  yield  fruitfully.  A  single  false  repre- 
sentation might  cut  short  a  career  of  roguery  by  giving  occasion 
and  justification  for  an  order  of  arrest  and  putting  in  of  bail.  If 
the  rogue  can  keep  his  tongue  quiet,  and  have  an  agency  to  do  his 
talking,  the  danger  is  averted ;  opportunities  are  multiplied ;  and 
a  scheme,  which  might  otherwise  be  rendered  futile  after  a  single 
effort,  in  a  single  city  or  town,  is  enabled  to  achieve  an  elaborate 
and  far-reaching  failure  with  comparative  immunity. 

It  may  well  be  doubted  whether  any  plan  was  ever   devised 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  27 

appealing  to  so  many  of  the  worst  and  lowest  human,  motives  at 
once.  The  quack-medicine  business  proceeds  on  one  principal 
national  weakness  :  the  known  peculiarity  that  almost  every  one 
considers  himself  or  herself  ailing,  in  some  way,  in  a  country 
whose  prevailing  sickness  is  dyspepsia  and  the  attendant  hypo- 
chondriacal  affections.  The  patent-right  fever  appeals  to  the  well- 
known  traditions  of  suddenly  acquired  wealth,  by  means  of  even 
simple  inventions  in.  an  era  of  inventions.  The  New-England 
Genealogical  Bureau  was  never  a  real  success,  although  it  flattered 
family  pride  in  a  particularly  sensitive  portion  of  the  country, 
anxious,  somewhat,  to  compete  with  the  un  tabulated  pedigrees  of 
the  Southern  chivalries.  But  the  agencies  touch  the  weak,  the 
vindictive,  the  unscrupulous,  in  their  greeds,  their  fears,  their 
rivalries,  their  passions,  their  hopes  of  betterment,  their  anxieties 
to  guard  against  loss,  and,  at  every  point,  present  an  inducement  or 
excite  a  sense  of  danger  or  insecurity. 

Deeply  considered,  the  wonder  is,  not  that  they  have  succeed- 
ed so  greatly  in  procuring  wealth  from  the  community,  but  that, 
assisted  by  the  supineness  of  their  victims  and  the  prevailing  love 
of  ease,. they  have  not  yet  passed  beyond  the  pale  of  damaging 
criticism  and  deserved  and  adequate  exposure. 

"Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  agencies,  their  own  conduct 
betrays  a  consciousness  of  weakness.  Their  latest  device  to  give 
something  for  nothing  is  apt  and  illustrative.  They  have  caught 
at  the  conceit  of  a  Health  Intelligence  Bureau,  whereby  insurance 
agencies  and  others  may  learn  the  condition  of  health  of  any  per- 
son in  a  neighborhood  for  two  dollars — one  for  the  agency  and  one 
for  the  medical  diagnoser.  This  small  sum,  we  are  to  suppose,  in- 
sures valuable  medical  information — as  valuable  in  proportion  as 
any  furnished  in  regard  to  men's  commercial  standing.  The  reader 
can  conceive  the  social  and  medical  "  rating "  of  a  doctor  whose 
restricted  practice  or  estimate  of  the  value  of  his  own  opinion  in- 
duces him  to  examine,  certify,  and  report  a  patient  for  one  dollar, 
and  can  also  approximate  the  caution  of  an  insurance  company  which 
would  accept  a  life  risk  on  the  recommendation  of  so  cheap-priced 
and  remote  an  JEsculapius.  "  All  premiums,  no  responsibility" 
must  be  the  motto  and  purpose  of  such  a  company,  just  as  "  all 
subscriptions  and  no  accountability"  is  the  true  shibboleth  of  the 
agencies.  The  revenue  derived  from  this  experiment  is  not  large, 
however,  and  we  only  allude  to  the  matter  to  show  the  mean 


28  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

minuteness  of  rapacity  which  actuates  the  policy-makers  of  the 
institutions.  By  a  natural  sequence,  projects  known  to  their  au- 
thors to  be  hollow  and  unsubstantial  are  constantly  accreting  ac- 
cessories and  helps  to  buoyancy.  The  "  seventh  son  of  a  seventh 
son,  born  with  a  caul "  is  the  natural  progenitor  of  the  boy  who 
invents  an  insect-destroyer  or  becomes  a  corn-doctor,  and  supple- , 
ments  his  precarious  business  by  the  sale  of  rat-paste.  Credulity 
may  have  an  end  in  one  direction  :  and  it  is  the  part  of  conscious 
insolvency  of  merit  to  devise  a  change  of  base  which  may  enable 
the  old  furniture  to  be  applied  to  new  uses. 

Following  out  this  idea,  the  gentlemen  of  the  agencies  may  in 
the  end  drop  on  something  useful.  Why  would  not  a  matrimonial 
bureau,  with  its  tin  photos  and  weekly  circular,  graced  with  cha- 
rades and  rebuses,  be  an  appropriate  adjunct "?  Next  to  the  need 
of  being  married  is  the  need  of  being  married  well.  How  many 
aspiring  widows  and  languishing  young  ladies  would  spend  a 
dollar  or  two  privately  in  the  delusive  hope  of  exact  information 
in  reference  to  the  affairs  of  Mr.  Scroggs,  of  the  Swamp,  or  the  ex- 
pectations of  Adolphus  Boggs,  of  Madison  avenue  ?  Neither  is  the 
exchange  of  love-tokens  in  hair  trinkets  and  cheap  jewelry""  an 
exhausted  field  for  profit.  Arrangements  for  private  interviews 
would  justify  extra  charges.  The  distribution  of  garden-seeds 
might  also  be  adopted,  at  slight  additional  expense.  Cures  for  the 
toothache,  salves  for  wounds,  recipes  for  cooking,  phrenological 
charts,  adapted  to  any  head,  might  all  be  dispensed  from  the  prin- 
cipal and  branch  offices,  with  the  special  advantage  that  the  pres- 
ent clerical  force  would  not  find  the  employment  beyond  its  ca- 
pacity. As  for  fortune-telling  and  palmistry,  that  would  entail  the 
hiring  of  a  madam ;  but  could  not  her  salary  be  readily  produced 
by  rating  down  one  or  two  young  merchants  and  calling  their  at- 
tention to  the  change  ? 

We  throw  out  these  hints.  They  are  suggested  by  the  idea  of 
the  Health  Bureau,  or  "  Health  Lift,"  as  we  prefer  to  term  it.  If  the 
agencies  have  not  determined  to  act  on  all  of  them  already,  they 
will  be  pleased,  we  are  sure,  at  the  appropriateness  and  timeliness 
of  our  suggestions. 

*  By  tlie  bye,  as  these  pages  go  through  the  press  we  find  our  idea  carried 
out  by  at  least  one  agency.  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  are  now  agents  for  the  cheap 
French  brass  and  leather  jewelry  of  the  period  ;  and  they  are  given  as  reference, 
in  a  late  Xew-York  Herald,  on  the  efficiency  of  a  moth  exterminator. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  29 


CHAPTER    Y. 

THE    KEYS    WHICH     UNL<?CK    NOTHING— HOW    BUSINESS    CONFI- 
DENCE IS  EEGULATED. 

THE  methods  adopted  by  the  agencies  to  decrease  the  chances 
of  exposure  of  their  ignorance  and  avarice  are  numerous  enough 
to  be  classified  and  noticed  separately,  namely :  those  relating  to 
the  "  key  " ;  those  adopted  in  the  printing  of  their  quarterly,  half- 
yearly,  or  yearly  reference-books ;  and  those  interposed  by  the  de- 
ceptive form  of  contract  made  with  subscribers.  "We  shall  devote 
a  fitting  space  to  each  in  turn. 

As  to  the  first  class:  the  reader  who  will  turn  to  the  fly-leaf 
for  the  "  key"  of  the  three  agencies  will  notice  the  exceeding 
vagueness  of  the  scale  of  imputed  capital  and  the  looseness  of  the 
associate  alphabetic  or  number  designation,  in  themselves  consid- 
ered. For  instance,  the  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  "  L,"  meaning 
'•  81000  and  under"  of  capital,  if  correctly  used,  may  convey  an 
idea  of  some  definiteness,  but  when  you  go  backwards  and  reach 
"  F,"  $10,000  to  $25,000,  you  have  a  margin  of  $15,000  associat- 
ed with  a  pretended  fact  of  $10,000  !  Take  "  E,"  $25,000  to 
$50,000,  you  find  a  margin  of  doubt  equal  to  the  allegation  of 
capital !  In  "  D,"  $50,000  to  $100,000,  the  mathematical  relation 
of  the  capital  is  not  changed ;  but  it  must  be  in  "  D's "  case  of 
greater  importance  to  know  whether  an  amount  equal  to  the 
original  $50,000  would  be  forthcoming  if  required.  This  is 
evidently  not  the  opinion  of  the  agency,  as  it  proceeds  at  once  to 
show  in  the  very  next  letter,  "  C,"  which,  it  informs  us,  may  be  re- 
lied on  anywhere  it  is  found  in  the  book  as  showing  a  capital  of 
from  $100^000  to  $150,000  ?  No  !  $175,000  ?  No  !  $200,000  3 
X o  !  but  from  $100,000  to  $250,000,  or  a  margin  of  doubt  twice 
and  a  half  times  greater  than  their  pretence  of  certainty  ! 

One  would  think   this   fluctuation  of  their  testing   standard 
ought   to   satisfy   the   agency   and  afford    it    room    and    verge 


30  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

enough,  whatever  thoughts  it  may  evoke  in  the  minds  of  the  seeker 
for  truth.  Ixot  so.  It  plumes  its  wings  for  a  higher  flight.  "  B  " 
stands  for  $250,000  to  $500,000  !  "  A,"  §500,000  to  a  million, 
and  A-f-  is  equal  to  "  A,"  that  is  $500,000,  but,  strange  anomaly, 
it  is  also  equal  to  $1,000,000  and  as  many  millions  over  as  you  like  ! 
At  this  point — A-{^ — the  accurate  series  of  mathematical  progres- 
sion of  the  agency  gives  out.  Precision  can  go  no  further.  The 
millionaire  and  the  $20,000,000  millionaire  are  "  all  one"  to  the 
agency ;  and  the  theretofore  painstaking  and  deliberately  precise 
calculator  may  be  regarded  as  overcome  by  the  algebraic  term 
and  its  portentous  meaning,  "  unlimited  credit"  !  How  strange  it 
is  that  the  deft  processes  of  the  mercantile  agency  ratings  and 
those  contrived  to  express  the  higher  mathematical  processes  should 
yet  illustrate  the  finiteness  of  human  ingenuity.  At  one  million 
the  agency  loses  its  power  to  calculate  capital,  or  considers  it  im- 
material whether  a  man  have  one  or  a  dozen  millions  to  fall  back 
on.  At  a  certain  number  in  the  trillions  Babbage's  brass  and 
iron  calculator  ceases  to  record  logarithms,  and  indulges  in  every 
kind  of  numerical  freak  as  if  under  the  dominion  of  a  frenzy. 
But  there  is  this  difference.  The  brass  and  iron  machine  is  capa- 
ble of  giving  certainty  /  is  overcome,  for  a  time  only,  by  some  law 
of  numbers  not  yet  discovered ;  and  returns  to  accuracy  again  as 
if  animated  with  assured  confidence  in  its  own  powers.  The 
agency,  on  the  other  hand,  glad  to  be  rid  of  even  this  wild  use  of 
its  crucial  and  metrical  standards,  at  the  first  decent  opportunity 
drops  them,  and  never  returns  to  their  use.  It  is  candid  for  the 
first  time.  It  makes  no  pretence  of  applying  them  in  the  higher 
altitudes  of  commercial  life — the  very  Alps  where  the  storms 
sweep  most  destructively ;  where  the  wild  beasts,  Speculation, 
Peculation,  and  Breach  of  Trust,  choose  their  most  inaccessible 
lairs,  and  from  which  pour  down  on  society  the  very  direst 
calamities  and  most  permanent  disasters  ! 

To  the  rapt  vision  of  the  agency,  one  million  and  over  means 
unlimited  credit;  and  yet,  if  we  consider  of  mistakes  in  these 
higher  altitudes  of  financial  speculation,  a  single  one  affecting 
them  would  naturally  lead  to  consequences  more  to  be  deplored 
than  a  thousand  errors  in  the  ordinary  fields  of  enterprise. 

But  taking  the  limit  of  one  million,  set  by  the  Agencies  as  the 
extreme  within  which  they  pretend  to  approximate  the  capital  of 


THE    SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  31 

commercial  men,  how  dangerous  and  visionary  and  haphazard 
must  be  the  collection  of  surmises  on  which  the  Agencies  base  even 
these  widely  divergent  values !  Have  they  no  knowledge  or  data 
from  which  they  could  safely  conclude  the  $100,000  merchant  to 
be  only  worth  $125,000  and  not  worth  $250,000  ?  If  they  have, 
why  do  they  leave  the  matter  of  his  means  so  horribly  in  doubt  ? 
If  they  have  not,  what  security  has  the  public  that  the  Agency 
knows  he  controls  even  $100,000  capital,  or  knows  he  is  possessed 
of  any  ?  On  an  extreme  limit  of  a  quarter  of  a  million,  they  are 
uncertain  as  to  two  thirds  of  it.  By  what  process  of  reasoning 
are  we  assured  that,  starting  with  the  minimum  limit  of  $100,000, 
they  know  any  more  positively  whether  it  should  have  been 
$20,000  or  $50,000  instead  of  the  $100,000  selected  ?  Is  not  the 
liberal  latitude  selected  a  plain  proof  of  the  known  necessity  of 
adopting  it  ?  Is  it  not  reasonable  to  argue  that,  when  they  cannot 
presume  to  set  up  a  fuller  code  of  denominators,  and  graded  to 
express  responsibility  in  the  all-important  matter  of  capital  more 
closely  than  from  one  hundred  thousand  to  a  quarter  of  a  million, 
they  are  equally  incapable  of  telling  us  whether  the  $10,000  mini- 
mum should  not  have  been  $5000,  or  the  $50,000  maximum 
should  not  have  been  $20,000  ?  Why,  between  these  extremes 
there  is,  necessarily,  in  any  given  number  of  instances,  a  demon- 
strated preponderance  of  incertitude  so  great  as  to  exclude  the  pos- 
sibility of  safe  trading ! 

When  we  turn  to  the  Numerical  symbols  of  credit,  we  find 
"  confusion  worse  confounded."  By  referring  to  the  fly-leaf  in 
which  the  "  Keys"  to  credit  are  given,  it  will  be  seen  that  Dun, 
Barlow  &  Co.  confine  themselves  to  four  designations,  "  Unlimit- 
ed Credit,"  "  High,"  "  Good,"  "  Fair,"  and  that  these  are  modified 
by  seven  numbers,  A  1,  1,  If,  2,  2£,  3,  3|.  That  is  to  say, 
"  Fair  3  "  with  "  3£  "  added  is  less  than  «  Fair" ;  "  Good  2  "  with 
"2i  "added  is  less  than  "Good";  "High  1"  with"!^"  added 
is  less  than  "  High"  ;  and  "  A  1"  is  without  limitation.  If  we 
consider  that  "  High,"  "  Good,"  and  "  Fair,"  with  their  numerical 
depredators,  can  only  represent  seven  states  of  credit,  ranging 
from  $1000  to  $1,000,000,  we  see  at  once  that  the  tests  of 
credit  are  as  lax  and  inexpressive  of  any  fixed  and  ascertained 
condition  as  are  the  characterizations  of  capital.  Seven  symbols 
to  express  the  credit  of  capitalists  ranging  from  one  thousand  dollars 


32  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

to  one  million  or  ten  millions  !  Four  numerals  and  three  fractions 
to  designate  the  almost  infinite  variety  of  estimation  in  which  the 
possessors  of  credit  really  stand  in  the  eyes  of  the  trading  world  ! 
"3£"— less  .than  "  Fair  "—associated  with,  say,  "F  "—810,000 
to  $25,000 — must  convey  the  same  meaning  as  "  3|-"  associated 
with  "  E  "—$25,000  to  $50,000— or  with  "  D  "—$50,000  to  $100,- 
000— or  with  "  C  "—$100,000  to  $250,000.  It  can  mean,  in  itself  or 
its  use,  no  less  or  more  in  the  one  case  than  in  the  others.  The  same 
criticism  holds  good  in  regard  to  "  2,"  "  2$  "— "  Good  "  and  less 
than  "  Good"— and  "  1,"  "  !£"-"  High,"  less  than  "  High  "-which, 
to  mean  anything,  must  mean  less  than  "  High  "  and  not "  Good  "  ! 
Was  ever  a  more  deceptive  and  self-confuting  method  adopted  to 
express,  or  aid  in  expressing,  the  grades  of  business  confidence  ? 
What  condition  of  credit  can  that  be  which  is  less  than  "  High  " 
and  is  not  "  Good "  ?  which  is  less  than  "  Good "  and  is  not 
"  Fair  "  ?  which  is  less  than  "  Fair  "  and  not  unworthy  of  credit  ? 

But  these  self-confusing  and  self-convicting  symbols  are  not 
only  absurd  on  their  face  :  they  are  rendered  supremely  ridiculous 
when  it  is  considered  that  they  pretend  to  be  the  product  of  pro- 
cesses of  reasoning  from  such  complex  and  involved  data  as  the 
personal  habits  of  traders,  or,  as  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  express 
it,  "  the  character  and  habits  of  each  member  of  a  firm ;  the 
"  nature  of  the  business,  hazardous  or  otherwise  ;  business  capa- 
"  city  and  promptness  in  payment ;  capital  or  worth  in  propor- 
"  tion  to  business  done,  and  negotiability  of  acceptances."  To 
carry  out  the  load  of  this  exacting  announcement,  McKillop  & 
Sprague  Co.  call  in  the  aid  of  a  double  line  of  symbols,  and  in- 
stead of  the  adjective  of  number  "less,"  affected  by  Dun,  Barlow 
&  Co.,  use  the' adverb  "  very,"  to  give  point  to  "High,"  "  Good," 
"  Fair,"  etc.  But  phrases  do  not  change  things,  and  we  illustrate 
this  truth  by  asking  what  can  be  the  state  of  a  trader  who  is  in 
"  very  high,"  and  not  in  "  iindoubtcd"  credit,  and  who  is  in 
"  good,"  and  not  in  "  very  good,"  credit ;  who  is  in  "  very  good," 
and  not  in  "  high,"  credit ;  who  is  "  fair  for  small  lines,"  and  not 
"  a  Fair  Business  risk  "  in  those  lines  ?  Is  not  a  person  in  "  good 
credit "  a  fair  business  risk  ?  Is  not  a  person  in  "  high  credit "  in 
"  very  good  "  credit  ?  Where  does  his  title  to  the  one  begin  and 
to  the  other  end  \  Can  it  be  rationally  pretended  that  a  distinc- 
tion so  purely  artificial  and  gossamer  in  import  is  founded  on  a 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  33 

discovered  balance  of  probability  of  credit  arising  from  a  calcula- 
tion of  the  always  variant  habits  of  various  members  of  a  firm, 
their  respective  capacities,  the  constantly  changing  hazardousness 
of  their  business,  and  the  no  less  constantly  changing  proportion 
of  capital  and  worth  compared  with  the  business  done  ?  Of  three 
members  of  a  firm,  one  is  abstemioits,  another  drinks,  a  third  plays 
poker  at  evening  parties.  Does  the  abstemious  man  neutralize 
the  poker-player,  or  the  drinking  man  neutralize  the  abstemious? 
From  the  conflict  of  characteristics,  what  is  the  final  resultant — 
the  true  ca/put  inortuum  of  the  seers  and  alchemists  of  the 
Agencies  ? 

Go  a  step  further  :  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.,  and  the  other 
Agencies  as  well,  although  not  on  their  title-pages,  assure  us,  or  de- 
sire us  to  be  assured,  that  every  "  deficiency"  in  good  habits  of 
every  member  of  a  firm,  every  deficiency  arising  from  various 
kinds  of  trading  in  the  sense  of  increase  of  hazard,  every  modifi- 
cation or  departure  from  effective  business  capacity,  every  change 
in  the  proportion  of  capital  to  trading  done,  is  recognised  and  al- 
lowed for  in  applying  these  few  designations  to  traders.  The  pro- 
blem now  becomes  more  intricate  :  "  allowed  for"  as  well  ! 

A  few  letters  and  figures  are  declared  equal  to  the  work  of 
conveying  the  wisest  conclusion  to  be  drawn,  not  alone  from  varia- 
tions of  habits,  of  capacity,  of  risk,  of  capital,  not  in  a  few  cases, 
but  in  over  800,000  cases,  although,  as  we  have  just  shown,  the  same 
letters  and  figures  are  incapable  of  conveying  any  clear  idea  of  one 
man's  credit  so  as  to  distinguish  it  "  less  than  high,"  and  not 
"  good"  ;  less  than  "  good,"  and  not  "  fair"  ;  "  good,"  and  not 
"  very  good,"  and  not  "  high,"  credit.  In  the  smallest  town  the 
wisest  trader  makes  bad  debts.  In  the  same  city  and  street  the 
most  alert  speculator  in  others'  credits  gets  taken  in.  Of  one  hun- 
dred individuals  exercising  their  personal  judgment  at  its  best,  all 
are  daily  more  or  less  mistaken,  and  a  large  percentage  greatly  de- 
ceived, in  business  transactions  and  prognostications.  And  yet 
the  Agencies  have  the  effrontery,  and  their  whole  theory  of  right 
to  exist  is  based  on  the  presumption,  to  claim  that  their  few  vague 
phrases  are  a  substitute  for  the  aggregate  business  varieties  of  opi- 
nions and  judgment  of  all  the  business  men  of  the  States  and  Ca- 
nada, and  are  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  effectually  advising  the 
business  community  whether  eight  hundred  thousand  traders,  mcr- 


34:  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

chants,  and  manufacturers  are  in  credit,  what  kind  of  credit  they 
are  in  from  day  to  day,  and  to  distinguish  its  shades  and  fluctuations 
with  sufficient  accuracy  for  wisely  influencing  and  controlling  dis- 
positions of  property ! 

"We  have  seen  the  worthlessness  of  these  Keys  of  capital  and 
Keys  to  credit  separately.  Do  they  acquire  a  new  virtue  by  be- 
ing put  alongside  each  other  and  attached  to  a  name  ? 

Separately  they  are  indefinite  and  unmeaning  criteria.  Put- 
ting them  together  only  multiplies  their  indefiniteness  and  induces 
greater  perplexity.  What  can  be  understood  of  a  man  with  from 
§25,000  to  $50,000  capital  who  is  in  "  good,"  and  not  in  «  very 
good,"  credit  ?  Is  he  fit  to  be  trusted  to  the  extent  of  $5000 
or  $10,000,  more  or  less,  because  of  the  credit  rating  indicating 
the  one  condition  and  not  the  other  ?  or,  indicating  either,  does 
the  indication  denote  that  his  credit  as  to  capital  should  be  ex- 
hausted at  a  presumption  of  $20,000  and  not  at  a  presumption  of 
$50,000  ?  How  can  any  sensible  conclusion  be  drawn  from  the  fact 
that  a  firm  rated  "  C  "—$100,000  to  $250,000  capital— is  rated  at 
«  very  good,"  and  not  at "  high,"  credit  ?  Does  the  doubtful  $150,- 
000  of  capital  bear  any  secret  relation  or  give  any  particular  signifi- 
cance to  the  one  credit  rating  and  not  to  the  other  \  Is  not  the 
expressed  possibility  of  a  capital  even  twice  as  large  as  the  pre- 
sumed capital  sufficient  to  convert  "  very  good "  into  "  high " 
credit,  or  vice  versa  f  If  not,  why  not  ?  One  would  think  that 
a  man  "  very  good  "  with  $100,000  would  be  in  "  high  "  cred- 
it with  $200,000,  higher  with  $250,000.  The  Agencies  know 
better.  They  can  tell  us  just  when  a  person  having  a  capital 
of  from  $500,000  to  $1,000,000  is  in  "  very  high "  credit,  and 
just  when  he  is  in  "  undoubted  "  credit,  when  with  $100,000  to 
$250,000  he  is  just  less  than  "  high  "  and  not  "  good."  If  this  be 
not  a  claim  of  measuring  water  accurately  with  a  sieve  ;  of  produc- 
ing certainty,  or  an  approximation  to  it,  by  increasing  the  elements 
of  uncertainty  ;  of  regulating  business  confidences  by  enlarging 
the  doubt-producing  combinations  whose  fewness  is  the  only 
possible  basis  for  even  prophesy,  we  do  not  know  what  to  call 
it.  The  Bradstreet  "  Key,"  with  its  93  letters  and  80  figures,  is 
better  graded  to  represent  presumed  fact  than  either  of  the  other 
two  ;  but  it  does  not  pretend  to  give  capital,  avoids  estimates  en- 
tirely, and  is  not  applied  with  any  regularity  to  even  the  states  of 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  35 

circumstances  indicated  by  the  "  Key"  itself.  Of  course,  the  sys- 
tem proceeds  on  4he  same  inexact  inf ormation  and  misinformation, 
and  the  sliding  scale  becomes  a  toy,  instead  of  an  instrument,  inev- 
itably. The  firm  appreciates  the  paucity  of  terms  and  conditions 
of  the  other  "  Keys,"  recognizes  their  looseness  and  insufficiency, 
and  tries  to  hide  an  equal  barrenness  under  a  deeper  festoon  of 
words. 

We  have  referred  to  the  "  Keys  "  simply  as  instruments  of 
relative  calculation.  Their  actual  use  in  the  Reference  Books  of 
the  Agencies  deserves  a  separate  chapter. 


36  THE   COMMEKCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW  THE   "KEYS"  AKE  PLAYED  AND  RATINGS  MADE  UP— WHO 
SIT  IN  JUDGMENT  AND  DISPENSE  AGENCY  JUSTICE. 

THE  best  and  most  experienced  business  man  in  the  world,  per- 
sonally informed,  so  far  as  one  man  can  ever  be,  of  another  man's 
affairs  in  his  immediate  vicinity,  would  be  in  some  difficulty  to  fix 
a  true  capital  and  designate  a  safe  credit  rating.  Proceeding  from 
the  point  that  these  ratings  and  "  Keys"  of  ratings  are  necessarily 
false  and  inefficient  as  such,  we  come  to  the  question,  who  affix 
them  ?  The  persons  who  do  it  are  : 

Firstly:  Outside  of  sixty  office  centres,  not  persons  of  the 
neighborhood,  but  clerks  to  whom  the  letters  and  reports  are  sent 
from  the  neighborhood. 

Secondly :  In  the  cities,  where  the  sixty  offices  are  situated,  re- 
ports concerning  residents  are  first  received  by  the  managers, 
pigeon-holed  until  the  convenient  opportunity  of  copying  has  ar- 
rived, and  then  turned  over  to  clerks,  who  affix  the  ratings.  The 
managers  attend  to  the  more  useful  work  of  increasing  the  sub- 
scription-lists. The  writer,  with  three  others,  was  lately  engaged 
for  a  period  of  six  weeks  affixing  such  ratings  as  he  saw  fit  to  the 
names  of  several  thousand  New- York  merchants,  the  latest  reports 
of  whom  (and  on  which  the  ratings  were  predicated)  were  in  some 
instances  eight  years  old,  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases  four  years 
old,  and  not  a  hundred  less  than  one  year  old !  This  habit,  origi- 
nating in  choice  and  recklessness  of  the  principal  office,  where  the 
responsible  managers  and  proprietors  are  supposed  to  give  their 
judgment  and  experience  to  their  work,  is  followed,  by  necessity, 
in  smaller  places,  where  none  of  the  company  resides  ;  and  young 
men  who  never  did  business  themselves,  and  boys  who  by  reason 
of  nonage  could  not  do  business,  are  the  arbiters  of  the  capital 
ratings  and  the  affixers  of  the  credit-marks  of  merchants  longer  in 
business  than  the  lifetime  of  their  inquisitors  and  judges.  It  was 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  37 

this  sublime  absurdity — if  the  agencies  were  sincere  in  their  claims — 
and  this  sublime  indifference  to  results — if  they  were  not  so — which 
set  the  writer  first  inquiring  what  enabled  him  to  extract  truth  as 
to  the  present  condition  of  a  merchant  from  an  old  report,  or  a 
new  one,  affording  no  sufficient  elements  for  even  a  wild  hypothe- 
sis. An  intimate  acquaintanceship,  extending  over  twelve  years, 
with  the  business  : — commencing  as  an  errand-boy,  progressing  to 
an  assistant  managership  and  cashiership  of  two  leading  branch 
offices — gave  him  facilities,  with  increase  of  age,  to  learn  the 
grossness  and  hollo wness  of  the  pretences  of  the  Agencies  in  this 
regard,  and  certainly  enabled  him  to  follow  the  system  and  apply 
the  ratings  as  well  as  others  of  shorter  experience  in  the  business 
and  his  juniors  in  age.  What  wonder  that,  when  he  became  con- 
scious of  his  own  incapacity  to  give  any  reason  to  himself  why  one 
man  should  be  rated  in  poor  credit  and  another  in  high  credit ; 
when  he  found  himself  doling  out  anathema  from  secret  reports 
when  the  Reference  Book  ratings  indicated  large  capital  and  high 
credit,  or  giving  rosy  pictures  of  men  whom  the  Reference  Book 
rated  poorly  or  not  at  all ;  when  he  saw  the  victim  of  the  latest 
report  coming  in  and  paying  his  money  to  be  unconsciously  de- 
stroyed, he  determined  to  inquire  whether  the  whole  system  was 
not  a  crying  fraud  and  injury  to  the  business  community.  His 
opinions,  he  further  found  on  examination,  were  the  same  as  those 
of  nearly  all  the  other  employees.  They  enjoyed  the  joke  and 
took  their  salary.  But  none  ever  pretended  to  believe  that  the 
information  sent  out  should  determine  the  propriety  of  entering 
into  a  single  bargain  or  executing  a  single  sale !  They  simply 
profited  by  the  system,  and  held  their  peace. 

There  were  potent  reasons  for  this  conduct.  The  merchants 
affected  were  not  their  employers.  The  salaries  paid  were  so 
meagre,  averaging  ten  dollars  per  week,  that  only  persons  of  press- 
ing necessities  and  slight  self-assertion  were  employed.  The  in- 
jury done  to  business  hopes  and  reputation  did  not  come  imme- 
diately under  their  observation  so  as  to  excite  sympathy,  or,  if  it 
did,  situations  were  hard  to  get,  and  labor  was  going  a-begging 
for  employment.  The  agency  fed  them,  whoever  else  it  hurt  or 
betrayed.  They  did  the  work  assigned  to  them,  and  cared  nothing 
for  the  consequences. 

Imagine  a  ten-dollar  clerk  poring  over  ten  or  twenty  lines  of 


38  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

manuscript  without  a  figure  in  it,  and  determining  ratings  of 
capital  and  credit  in  the  case  of  merchants  doing  a  business  of  two 
or  five  millions  a  year !  Take  an  instance  from  the  Xew-York 
grocery  trade.  Tupper — Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s  reporter  of  this 
line — is  notorious  for  seldom  giving  an  estimate  of  means.  The 
business  in  which  he  is  employed  engages  the  second  largest  capital— 
barring  the  dry-goods  trade — invested  in  the  metropolis.  The  num- 
ber of  merchants  and  traders  may  be  safely  set  down  at  5000  ; 
and  yet,  during  seven  years  or  nearly  seven,  Mr.  Tupper  has  either 
never  secured  information  enough  to  communicate  estimates, 
or,  to  guard  against  the  consequences  of  his  ignorance,  has  seldom 
dared  to  do  so.  Yet  it  is  from  the  vague  statements  of  this  gen- 
tleman, couched  in  language  which  fits  Talleyrand's  ideal  in  its  ca- 
pacity to  hide  thought,  that  the  boys  of  the  Agency  sit  in  judg- 
ment and  award  sentences  which,  within  an  hour  after  utterance, 
may  imperil  a  prosperous  business  or  elevate  a  sinking  firm  into  a 
self -surprising  credit. 

In  the  city  dry-goods  trade  Mr.  Chase  holds  the  like  office  that 
Mr.  Tupper  sustains  in  the  grocery  line.  Tupper's  excessive 
tendency  to  caution  is  not  Chase's  sole  characteristic.  He  is  a 
sour,  lymphatic  old  man,  whose  errors  lie  in  the  other  extreme. 
He  jumps  at  conclusions  without  what  we  regard  necessary  in- 
formation. The  clerks  have  no  difficulty  in  dealing  with  his  state- 
ments. He  decides  summarily,  and  the  reports  indicate  in  what 
spirit,  where  his  curiosity  has  not  been  gratified,  where  his  feelings 
incline,  or  where  he  has  been  treated  as  an  impertinent  intermed- 
dler  by  houses  of  known  respectability.  Indeed,  Chase  relieves  the 
clerks  from  superintending  his  estimates,  just  as  he  relieved  Ed- 
wards, his  assistant,  from  presuming  to  have  an  opinion  of  a  mer 
chant's  credit  adverse  to  his.  If  Chase  likes  a  dry-goods  house,  or 
has  had  reason  to  like  it,  that  house  will  get  to  the  public  and 
tradje  through  the  agency  in  glowing  colors.  If  any  house  com- 
petes with  Chase's  favorite,  that  house  will  learn  the  result  in  the 
next  Reference  Book,  or  earlier,  if  called  for,  in  the  secret  reports 
and  in  the  best  words  of  Chase.  This  peculiarity  was  generally 
known  and  commented  on  in  the  office.  Two  effects  of  it  are  suf- 
ficient to  illustrate  its  consequences.  Yyse  &  Co.,  an  old  English 
house,  importing  straw-goods,  and  rated  by  Chase  in  the  Reference 
Book  equal  to  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co.,  A  +  A  1,  was  a  favorite  with 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  39 

this  gentlemen  so  late  as  February,  1875,  and  his  friendship  or  ad- 
miration for  it  caused  the  house  to  be  reported  to  the  Tenth  Na- 
tional Bank  in  that  month  as  in  unquestionable  credit  after  the 
house  had  failed  !  Of  course  the  Tenth  National  Bank  was  only 
practising  a  joke  on  the  Agency,  for  it  knew  of  the  failure  when 
making  the  inquiry,  and  made  the  request  in  that  spirit.  How 
the  Central  National  Bank  of  New- York,  if  it  had  confidence  in 
the  Agency,  was  misled  by  the  same  favorable  report,  obtained  a 
few  days  previously,  can  be  best  told  by  Mr.  William  A.  Whee- 
lock,  its  president. 

Take  another  case.  Alsberg  &  Jordan,  hosiery,  etc.,  having, 
like  the  Tenth  National  Bank,  little  or  no  faith  in  the  Agency  in- 
formation or  in  Chase,  refused  to  make  any  statement  of  their 
affairs  to  him  in  January,  18T5.  They  had  been  rated  previously 
in  "good  credit."  Forthwith  they  became  "  doubtful."  The  Dry 
Goods  Bank  made  inquiries  in  anticipation  of  discounting  their 
paper  in  the  usual  course.  Chase's  report  stopped  the  chance  of 
legitimate  discount.  The  house  still  survives,  and  is  in  bettor 
credit  than  ever,  if  possible,  from  having  weathered  a  test  which 
a  single  man's  repelled  impertinence  might  have  rendered  fatal  in 
the  case  of  firms  not  so  generally  esteemed  or  of  less  mobile 
means.  Still  another  instance.  Shackman  &  Katski,  cloths,  etc., 
229  Church  street,  New- York  City,  although  solicited  to  become 
subscribers  and  pay  $150  to  the  Agency,  declined ;  they  were  rated 
down  accordingly.  Paine,  Goodwin  &  Nowell,  wholesale  woollens, 
cloths,  etc.,  advised  Mr.  Shackman  to  call  at  the  Agency,  subscribe, 
and  "  fix  his  rating,"  and  they  would  sell  to  the  firm,  being  willing 
to  sell  if  Shackman  &  Katski  could  buy  from  others.  Shackman 
stood  on  his  right,  did  not  go  to  the  Agency,  and  is  pursuing  busi- 
ness on  the  joint  capital  of  his  own  merit  and  the  prevailing 
belief  of  the  general  incorrectness  and  pliability  of  the  Agency's 
opinions. 

The  person  in  general  charge  of  the  New- York  City  depart- 
ment is  Mr.  "VViman,  who  began  business  about  eighteen  years  ago 
by  keeping  a  paper-stand  and  stationery  store  in  Toronto,  and  by 
a  series  of  judicious  manoeuvres  succeeded  in  passing  from  a  clerk- 
ship in  the  business  at  Toronto  to  a  partnership  interest  and  a 
residence  in  New-York,  in  the  principal  office.  He  is  practically 
the  controlling  spirit  of  the  institution.  His  fitness  for  presiding 


40  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

over  the  commercial  credit  of  tlie  old  and  young  merchants  of  such 
an  emporium  as  the  Empire  City  can  readily  be  determined.  On 
the  9th  of  May,  1868,  Erastus  "Wiman  was  compelled  by  process  to 
depose  before  Hon.  Charles  Mondelet,  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court  in  Montreal,  Canada  East,  that  one  Jay  Lugsdin,  who  had 
been  manager  in  that  city  from  September,  1866,  to  March,  1868, 
"  was  discharged  because  he  borrowed  $800  frow  Andreiu  Mac- 
"farlan  &  Co.,  St.  Paul  street,  and  neglected  to  advise  the  Lon- 
"  don  office  with  information  about  the  firm  until  the  information 
"had  become  valueless."  The  borrowing  took  place  in  February, 
1867  ;  the  information  was  held  back  until  25th  July,  1867, 
when  the  Macfarlans  had  effected  all  their  foreign  purchases.  The 
Macfarlans  became  insolvent  in  the  spring  of  1868  ;  and  the 
removal  of  Lugsdin  did  not  take  place  until  the  Insolvents  had 
been  brought  into  court.  Dun,  Barlow  <fe  Co.,  fearing  the  effect 
of  such  a  transaction,  sought  to  claim  credit  to  their  Agency  for 
having  "  discharged  "  him  ;  but  the  falsity  of  this  pretence  was 
soon  evidenced  by  the  appointment  of  Lugsdin  to  the  manager- 
ship of  the  Philadelphia  office,  and  his  subsequent  promotion 
to  San  Francisco,  the  head-quarters  for  the  Pacific  Coast  States, 
with  the  Portland  (Oregon)  Branch  under  his  supervision — a  posi- 
tion vrhich  he  still  holds.  It  was  not  the  borrowing  therefore,  but 
the  being  found  out,  which  stirred  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co. ;  it  was  not 
the  keeping  back  of  injurious  information  relative  to  a,  subscriber, 
and  withholding  it  from  other  subscribers  entitled  to  it  by  having 
paid  for  it  in  advance,  which  touched  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s  con- 
science most  severely :  all  this  could  have  been  borne  with ;  had 
been  borne  with  one  year,  and  would  have  been  borne  with  longer 
if  the  facts  had  not  got  into  court,  and  compelled  Dun,  Barlow  & 
Co.  to  transfer  Mr.  Lugsdin's  approved  capacity  to  new  fields. 
Nor  is  this  surprising.  Mr.  Wiman  himself  had  been  a  manager 
in  Montreal,  and  had  learned  from  personal  experience  the  efficien- 
cy of  his  position  to  procure  aid  in  difficulties  from  the  mer- 
chants of  that  city.  In  the  very  years  when  Lugsdin  was  operat- 
ing with  the  Macfarlans,  Wiman  was  borrowing  from  K.  J.  Dallas, 
manager  of  the  Montreal  branch  of  the  Bank  of  Toronto  (who 
subsequently  absconded  with  §40,000),  and  from  P.  D.  Browne, 
Exchange  Broker,  and  getting  the  indorsements  of  David  Morrice 
and  others  on  notes  discounted  for  his  individual  benefit  by  the 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  41 

Bank  and  Browne  !  This  Browne  wets,  also  indorse?  on  the  note 
given  by  Lugsdin  in  the  Macfarlan  transaction,  and  evidently 
appreciated  the  necessity  of  affixing  his  name,  on  request,  on  the 
back  of  either  Wiman's  or  Lugsdin's  promises  to  pay,  although  both 
Lugsdin  and  "Wiman  were  merely  salaried  persons,  without  prop- 
erty, capital,  or  business — besides  reporting  on  the  commercial 
standing  of  gentlemen  who  might  refuse  to  afford  them  these 
convenient  facilities  of  local  credit.  In  the  light  of  these  facts, 
within  the  writer's  personal  knowledge,  "Wiman's  exhibition  of  a 
testy  sense  of  Merchantile  Agency  honor  in  the  Superior  Court 
was  one  of  the  coolest  exhibitions  of  the  season  even  in  that  cli- 
mate, and  gives  pith  and  point  to  his  further  declaration,  on  com- 
ing to  New- York,  that  he  would  never  leave  the  broader  and  richer 
domain  of  Agency  effort  afforded  by  the  Metropolis,  without  a  clear 
million  to  his  credit. 

It  is  not  for  us  to  say  whether  he  proposes  to  attain  his  object 
by  worthy  or  unworthy  means  ;  but  the  reader  may  draw  such  con- 
clusions as  he  shall  see  fit  from  the  following  data. 

Edward  Mathews,  Nos.  4  and  G  Broad  street,  New- York  City, 
is  a  real-estate  owner  worth,  by  the  affidavits  of  half  a  dozen  experts, 
$6,000,000  or  more,  and  in  receipt  of  $326,000  a  year  from  it, 
clear  income,  over  and  above  Taxes,  Assessments,  etc.  Dun,  Bar- 
low &  Co.  rated  this  well-known  capitalist  as  worth  only  from 
$500,000  to  $1,000,000,  with  a  credit  rating  such  as  is  given  to  a 
man  with  from  $25,000  to  $50,000  capital  !  This  rating  appeared 
at  a  time  when  Mr.  Mathews  was  about  to  negotiate  a  loan  in  Eng- 
land on  property  situated  in  Wall  and  Broad  streets.  The  New- 
York  City  Department  manager  contrived  to  put  himself  in  com- 
munication with  Mr.  Mathews  by  asking  for  a  statement  and  send- 
ing a  canvasser  for  a  subscription.  Mathews  received  the  Gospel 
but  dismissed  the  Missionary  ;  that  is,  he  called  on  Dun,  Barlow 
&  Co.,  made  his  statement,  showed  his  proofs  of  value  and  liabilities 
under  the  oath  of  the  best  authorities  in  the  city  as  to  real  estate, 
and  told  them  that  he  would  not  subscribe  ;  that  the  rating  must 
be  changed  to  represent  the  facts,  or  that  his  name  must  be  whol- 
ly suppressed  to  avoid  legal  proceedings.  No  subscription  or 
other  inducement  appearing,  an  unfavorable  report  was  made  and 
circulated.  The  name  was  suppressed  in  the  Reference  Book  in 
view  of  the  threat  of  legal  proceedings,  and  the  London  Times, 


42  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

getting  its  misinformation  from  some  American  source,  lias  lately 
been  obliged  to  publicly  retract  its  misstatements  about  Mr.  Ma- 
thews,  and  to  do  justice  to  a  man  whom  a  subscription,  or  a  judi- 
cious recognition  of  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s  position,  might  have 
saved  from  all  the  annoyance  and  possible  injury.  .Dun,  Barlow 
c6  Co.,  we  know,  received  nothing  but  the  statement  from  Mr.  Ma- 
thews.  The  uncharitable  may  say  the  fact  accounts  for  the  preser- 
vation, in  the  Agency  and  private  circulation,  of  the  unfavorable 
report  up  to  the  time  of  writing.  At  all  events,  Morrice  and 
Browne,  of  Montreal,  with  a  respective  capital  of  $75,000  and 
$50,000,  stand  in  higher  credit,  conceded  by  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co., 
than  Mr.  Mathews,  although  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  rated  Mr. 
Mathews  "  A  1,  A  1,  A  1 " — the  highest  capital  rating  and  high- 
est credit — and  Bradstreet  &  Son  at  "  A,  A,  A  " — the  most  un- 
doubted capital,  business  character,  ability,  and  credit. 

Query.  If  a  capital  of  $50,000,  with  a  liberal  habit  of  indors- 
ing paper,  produce  "High  Credit,"  what  would  A  capital  of 
$6,000,000,  with,  the  like  habit,  produce  ? 

Answer.  "  Unlimited  Credit,"  at  least. 

The  final  moral  remains  to  be  drawn.  Since  the  time  mention- 
ed, P.  D.  Browne  has  had  his  rating  increased  to  an  extraordinary 
amount  within  a  short  period.  But  all  is  not  gold  that  glitters 
under  the  fructifying  rays  of  friendship.  Pathless  the  Agency, 
Browne  incontinently  failed  in  June,  1875,  owing  $60,000  and 
over,  or  an  amount  about  equal  to  his  last  false  increase  of  pre- 
tended capital  and  credit.  These  three  gentlemen,  Tupper, 
Chase,  and  TViman,with  a  varying  number  of  cheap  assistants,  are 
the  reporters  and  raters  of  the  Merchants,  Bankers,  Manufacturers, 
and  Traders  in  and  out  of  New- York  for  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co. 
Of  course  the  Agency  must  make  a  show  of  activity  somewhere, 
and  the  chief  city  is  the  most  profitable  place  for  making  it. 
Hence  fine  offices,  a  large  array  of  old  Books,  a  majority  of 
illiterate  clerks,  and  an  increasing  system  of  canvassing  for  sub- 
scriptions. Talk  of  the  curse  of  the  Locusts  of  Egypt  or  Kansas, 
of  the  infliction  of  the  Sewing-Machine  travellers  and  Lightning- 
Eod  men :  these  Agency  canvassers  are  to  the  business  men  of  this 
country  equally  persistent  and  far  more  exacting.  A  new  firm  is 
engaged  in  taking  down  its  shutters  for  the  first  time.  Enter  a 
canvasser.  An  old  one  is  in  the  labor-pains  of  bringing  forth  a 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  43 

new  Special.  Enter  a  canvasser.  A  partner  is  retiring,  and  the 
rest  of  the  firm  are  entitling  their  new  Books  and  repainting  the 
sign.  Enter  a  canvasser.  An  unreported  local  house  is  inquired 
for  at  the  Agency  counter,  in  Broadway,  or  any  of  the  Branches. 
While  the  inquirer  is  waiting  for  information  the  canvasser 
crosses  a  threshold  in  one  of  the  down-town  streets,  and  demands 
information  and  a  subscription. 

The  amount  ranges  from  $150  to  $5000  yearly,  as  testified  by 
Wiman  in  April,  1875,  in  the  New-York  Supreme  Court,  on  trial 
of  an  action  entitled  "  Eobert  Gr.  Dun  and  others  vs.  J.  Arthur 
Murphy";  but  where  $150  cannot  be  got,  $50  placates  or  molli- 
fies the  itinerant.  Even  at  the  latter  rate  the  profit  is  enormous 
and  justifies  all  the  effort  expended  by  the  Agency. 

Outside  of  New- York,  as  the  opportunities  of  getting  Sub- 
scribers decrease,  the  efforts  to  get  information  decrease  also. 
The  Principal  Office  makes  the  subordinate  ones  self-supporting 
at  least,  or  ceases  to  indulge  in  them.  The  Syracuse  Office  was 
started  in  this  wise,  in  May,  1872.  Two  clerks  got  half  their 
travelling  expenses  to  that  burgh.  One  resident  Merchant,  Duguid, 
of  Duguid,  "Wells  &  Co.,  saddlery,  etc.,  advanced  the  use  of  his 
rooms  in  place  of  a  subscription,  and  got  rated  with  unction. 
Another  firm,  Cooke,  Carpenter,  Coleman  &  Co.,  gave  the  furni- 
ture for  the  same  consideration  and  with  an  abiding  faith  that 
their  bread  "  would  come  back  after  many  days."  Less  than  $50 
sufficed  to  impose  on  the  people  of  that  city  an  institution  which 
now  costs  them  annually  $12,000,  under  the  direction  of  a  mere 
youth  named  Cargell,  whose  services  as  a  Commercial  Khadaman- 
thus  of  a  large  contiguous  District  are  rated  by  the  Agency 
at  the  weekly  value  of  $15.  It  is  but  just  to  add  that  this 
compensation  is  fully  commensurate.  Cargell  will  admit  he 
could  not  earn  $10  a  week  marking  boxes  or  in  any  other 
employment  requiring  special  adaptability.  It  must  be  worth 
$5  more  to  calculate  the  average  risks  attending  the  investment 
and  use  of  500  or  600  millions  of  active  capital  within  the 
radius  of  his  District.  Twelve  dollars  per  week  satisfy  Mar- 
shall, in  Erie,  Pa.  Nevill  is  content  with  the  same  stipend  in 
Scranton,  Pa.  Pratt  makes  Cincinnati  profitable  on  an  infinitesi- 
mal portion  of  the  revenue  derived  from  the  Porkopolites. 
Brock  lives  and  flourishes  like  a  Prince  in  Chicago,  on  a  salary 


44-  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

sufficient  to  justify  liis  aesthetic  tastes  and  open-handed  expendi- 
ture in  that  fast-living  and  energetic  community.  In  the  staider 
City  of  Buffalo,  John  H.  Smith  has  labored  these  six  years  past 
on  a  stinted  compensation,  and  contrived,  with  a  genius  not  unique 
in  this  business,  to  set  aside  savings  variously  estimated  at  $60,000 
to  $70,000.  In  St.  John,  K  R,  Augustus  P.  Eolph  performs 
the  duty  of  Sweeper,  Errand-boy,  Reporter,  and  Manager  all  to- 
gether for  about  $20  per  week,  and  does  not  repine  at  the  ways  of 
Providence.  Our  friend  Lugsdin  disports  by  the  Golden  Horn 
on  a  light  apparent  capital ;  but  who  can  say  how  many  Macf  ar- 
lans  he  may  have  met  to  lighten  and  brighten  his  Pacific  exile  ? 

But  we  are  not  restricted  to  generalization  in  judging  of  the 
average  fitness  of  the  managers  and  credit  men  of  the  institutions. 
The  records  of  courts  in  the  United  States  and  Canada  supply  us 
with  abundant  proof  of  particular  escapades ;  and  even  the  instances 
of  Wrong-doing  "hushed  up"  by  the  Agencies,  in  self-protection 
and  as  the  better  wisdom,  are  matters  of  common  report.  One  of 
Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s  men,  appointed  through  the  influence  of  Eras- 
tus  Wiman,  absconded  from  Rochester  in  18TO  with  about  $4000, 
went  to  Canada,  and  was  employed  there  by  Bradstreet  &  Son. 
Another  of  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s  defaulted  in  Mobile  in  1873,  was 
convicted,  and  imprisoned  two  years.  A  third,  of  the  same  Agen- 
cy, embezzled  at  Evansville,  Indiana,  in  March,  1875,  and  was  not 
prosecuted,  as  we  judge  from  a  statement  of  an  Evansville  news- 
paper. In  Pittsburg,  a  fourth  depleted  his  friends  $6000.  A 
fifth  absconded  from  Montreal,  and  subsequently  entered  the  em- 
ployment of  McKillop  &  Sprague,  at  Chicago.  A  sixth  is  alleged 
to  have  depredated  in  Syracuse,  in  1873.  A  seventh  was  arrested 
in  Albany,  charged  by  Henry  Brock  with  fraud,  etc.,  and  was  after- 
wards appointed  to  Scranton,  Pa.  An  eighth — a  city  department 
reporter — has  just  been  exposed  in  the  courts  as  the  keeper  of  a 
house  of  prostitution.  A  ninth,  in  Memphis,  explained  his  de- 
ficiency in  accounts  by  saying  he  lost  his  money  in  a  Faro- 
bank  and  is  now  probably  in  charge  of  a  less  tempting  neigh- 
borhood. A  tenth  is  announced,  under  date  of  October  18th, 
1875,  in  a  circular  issued  in  Houston,  Texas,  as  having,  within  ten 
days,  "  practised  divers  frauds  on  some  of  the  best  citizens  by  ob- 
taining money,  etc.,"  on  account  of  his  Agency  connection.  The 
list  might  be  increased  ad  libitum  ;  but  we  merely  give  these  facts 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  45 

to  show  the  carelessness  as  to  character  evinced  by  the  Agencies  in 
selecting  their  most  trusted  assistants.  It  is  no  wonder  such  aids 
turn  out  thieves  or  criminals,  or  are  chosen  from  the  criminal 
classes.  No  references  are  required  ;  no  preliminary  examination, 
into  the  antecedents  of  an  applicant  is  had.  If  he  will  work  for 
low  salary,  the  Agencies  give  themselves  little  concern  what  else  he 
may  have  done  or  may  do.  Indeed,  one  of  the  most  amusing  fea- 
tures of  Agency  life  is  their  utter  heedlessness  of  consequences  in 
the  case  of  credit  men.  The  writer  has  often  been  amused  at  the 
return  of  credit  men,  after  enforced  absences  in  jail  or  on  the 
Island,  for  reinstatement  and  back  salary.  lie  never  knew  one  of 
them  to  be  refused  renewed  service  on  such  grounds.  Whatever 
they  did,  they  seemed  to  think  they  knew  enough  of  Agency  me- 
thods to  brazen  out  their  transgressions  and  enforce  a  re-employ- 
ment. And  so  far  as  the  writer's  experience  goes,  they  never  cal- 
culated erroneously.  If  we  only  consider  the  scope  for  false,  fa- 
bricated, or  collusive  reports  given  by  and  to  the  persons  whose 
misdeeds  we  have  just  noted,  what  a  terrible  mass  of  misrepresen- 
tation must  have  got  abroad  at  their  hands !  If  we  consider  that 
the  Agencies  take  no  precaution  against  the  recurrence  of  like  of- 
fences, we  may  naturally  infer  that  the  exposed  crime  bears  but  an 
insignificant  ratio  to  the  hidden  wrongs  and  offences  daily  commit- 
ted by  persons  chosen,  by  such  methods,  for  such  work.  And 
may  we  not  reasonably  ask  the  business  classes :  If  the  reputations 
of  traders  and  the  safety  of  sellers  are  both  entrusted  to  carelessly 
or  capriciously  selected  men,  out  of  whose  ranks  the  foregoing 
offenders  have  come,  what  is  to  be  hoped  for  from  the  undetected 
remainder  ? 


46  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FURTHER  ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  AGENCY  IGNORANCE,  CUPIDITY,  AND 
AVARICE— DO  THEY  CONTRIBUTE  TO  MISLEAD  CONFIDENCE  ? 

THIS  remarkable  disparity  between  the  known  salaries  of  the 
employees  of  the  Agency  and  their  ostensible  means  and  methods 
of  living  may  have  an  innocent  explanation.  A  man  may  be 
willing  to  carry  on  his  shoulders,  year  after  year,  the  responsibility 
of  a  Branch  office  in  a  leading  city,  and  acting  over  a  large  ad- 
joining District,  on  a  fixed  salary  of  from  $10  to  $20  or  $30  a 
week.  We  know  these  men  do  so.  But  if  they  be  not  driven  bv 
stress  of  circumstances  to  take  and  hold  such  a  position  at  such  a 
price,  they  must  be  moved  to  the  sacrifice  by  other  motives  than 
those  supplied  by  their  salaries.  Are  there  no  perquisites  ?  If 
"VViman  hopes  to  make  a  million  dollars — he  has  already  got 
$200,000 — may  not  Smith  aspire  to  one  tenth  thereof  ?  If  Wiman 
may  have  his  stud  and  country  villa  and  gorgeous  retinue,  why 
may  not  Brock  look  forward  to  the  not  far  distant  day  when  he 
may  drive  a  four-in-hand  instead  of  a  team  on  "Wabasli  avenue,  nor 
excite  the  gall  of  the  manager-makers?  Whatever  the  true 
explanation,  this  argument  results:  the  Agency  selects  cheap 
labor  because  it  is  cheap,  and  pays  accordingly ;  and  cheap  labor  is 
a  dangerous  inducement  to  poorly-paid  men,  whose  position  as 
raters  and  givers  of  commercial  credit  and  standing  is  so  grossly  at 
variance  with  their  stipulated  income. 

The  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  and  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son  Agen- 
cies claim  to  have  as  many  Branch  offices  as  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co., 
and  employ  relatively  illiterate  men  and  cheap  ones,  in  preference 
to  any  other,  for  like  reasons.  For  all  practical  purposes  of  com- 
parison, their  methods  of  receiving  gratuitous  information  and, 
outside  of  New-York  City,  relying  wholly  on  volunteer  and  un- 
paid-for  knowledge  are  the  same  as  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s.  In  ISTew- 
York  City  they  have  a  certain  number  of  credit  men  who  either 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  47 

solicit  subscriptions  or  give  names  of  probable  subscribers  to  can- 
vassers, with  whom  they  divide  the  Commissions.  These  credit 
Eeporters  pick  up  such  rumors  as  they  meet  with  in  the  streets  ; 
apply  to  particular  houses  in  a  given  line  for  opinions  of  other 
and  rival  houses  in  the  same  line;  inquire  from  strongly-rated,  that 
is,  favorite,  houses  in  the  eyes  of  credit-givers,  for  estimates  of  the 
financial  condition  of  less  favored  ones,  but  make  no  personal 
critical  examination  of  the  Records  of  the  County  Clerk's  or  Re- 
gister's offices  for  the  purpose  of  proving  the  true  position  of  sole 
Merchants  and  Traders  or  individual  members  of  Firms  or  Com- 
panies. Apart  from  the  street  "  say  so,"  the  statements  of  parties 
in  their  own  behalf  when  given,  and  the  Real  Estate  Record  of 
current  judgments,  mortgages,  liens,  and  foreclosures,  these  high- 
ly-paid Agencies  do  nothing  to  earn  the  liberal  contributions  made 
to  them  yearly  by  the  business  men  of  the  country.  Now  the 
Record  does  not  give  the  business  or  addresses  of  persons  against 
whom  judgments  have  been  obtained,  or  who  have  mortgaged  or 
transferred  their  property,  or  who  have  created  liens  on  it  and  had 
them  created  in  Law  or  Equity.  The  value  of  this  daily  re- 
minder is  determined,  so  far  as  the  Agencies  are  concerned,  by  this 
fact.  The  Smiths  and  Browns  are  numerous  in  any  large  city, 
and  hold  their  customary  preponderance  in  the  Empire  State.  If 
judgment  is  got  against  Smith,  some  Smith  is  suspected  of  being 
the  right  one  ;  his  name  is  marked  with  a  query  ;  but  whether  it 
be  the  particular  Smith  of  Broadway,  or  the  same-named  Smith  of 
Wall  street,  or  another  Smith  in  the  Swamp,  is  "  all  Greek"  to  the 
Agencies  until  a  disturbance  occur  out  of  it.  The  inspection  of 
the  Judgment  is  never  attempted.  "What  is  worse  follows. 
No  notice  is  taken  of  Satisfactions  of  Judgments,  so  that  the 
doomed  and  suspected  Smith  continues  to  be  doomed  and  sus- 
pected until  he  either  goes  to  the  trouble  of  having  a  correc- 
tion made,  or  goes  to  the  grave  in  blessed  ignorance  of  the  cause 
and  origin  of  many  unaccountable  business  experiences. 

An  incident  which  occurred  in  February,  1875,  in  Dun, 
Barlow  &  Co.'s  New- York  office,  will  illustrate  the  common 
danger  in  all  other  Agencies  arising  from  the  mistake  of  names. 
Tho  writer  suspected,  and  called  the  Superintendent's  attention  to, 
an  unfavorable  report  applied  to  the  house  of  Schuyler,  Hartley 
&  Graham,  Military  Goods,  etc.,  Maiden  lane,  New- York  City. 


48  TEE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

It  was  meant  for  another  firm,  but  had  been  sent  to  and  recorded, 
with  all  its  injurious  import,  in  six  or  eight  Branch  offices.  This 
error  continued  for  more  than  a  month,  and  was  only  corrected 
after  several  days  of  calling  attention  to  it.  It  is  of  record  in  the 
Branch  offices,  owing  to  the  negligence  and  carelessness  of  the  Su- 
perintendent, and  will  remain  so  until  this  publication  shall  have 
compelled  correction. 

Another  one  occurs  to  us,  as  we  write,  where  no  correction  has 
been  made,  and  where  one  was  prevented  being  made,  to  hide  the 
ignorance  of  the  Agency.  Koehler  &  Kupfer  are  Distillers ;  Her- 
man Koehler  is  a  Brewer ;  I.  M.  Koehler  is  a  Banker  in  N^ew-York. 
The  reports  of  each  are  mixed  up  with  the  others'.  One  was  re- 
ported unfavorably,  although  all  are  men  of  assured  capital.  This 
report  was  tacked  to  the  most  conspicuous  capitalist.  The  Dry 
Goods  Bank  got  the  bad  report  of  the  wealthiest  man ;  and  al- 
though the  messenger  could  have  been  recalled  or  the  correction 
made  to  the  Bank,  the  Superintendent  instructed  the  writer  not 
to  do  either,  choosing  the  Bank  should  be  misled,  and  the  citizen, 
it  might  be,  ruined,  rather  than  that  the  Agency  should  be  found 
correcting  its  mistakes. 

Still  another.  Robert  Macdonald  is  a  Wholesale  Dealer  in 
White  Goods,  etc.,  at  468  Broadway,  Xew-York  City,  and  a  sub- 
scriber. Wiman  does  not  allow  the  clerks  to  read  Macdonald's 
report  to  subscribers,  but  refers  inquirers  to  himself  for  those  tit- 
bits which  he  dare  not  place  on  record  or  within  Mac's  reach. 

What  if  Mac  does  drive  a  four-in-hand,  or  has  married  a 
divorcee,  or  failed  in  Belfast,  or  is  disliked  in  Ireland,  cannot  this 
be  written  down,  if  true,  in  a  manly  way,  and  the  consequences 
borne  ?  Do  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  fear  to  lose  a  subscription,  or 
to  incur  a  libel-suit,  or  to  earn  a  thrashing  from  the  man  whose 
acquaintanceship  is  turned  into  a  commodity  ?  Of  course  whatever 
is  offensive  in  this  statement  is  necessarily  untrue,  and  we  repeat  it 
merely  for  the  purpose  of  contradicting  it,  in  whole  or  in  part,  and 
with  infinitely  better  authority  for  our  contradiction  than  the 
Agency  could  ever  have  had  for  its  first  statement. 

The  Schuyler,  Hartley  &  Graham  and  Koehler  &  Kupfer 
cases  are  not  mere  clerical  blunders.  They  arise  out  of  the  pur- 
posed neglect  of  all  the  Agencies  to  print  the  places  of  business  in 
connection  with  the  names.  In  this  course  Braclstreet  and  McKil- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  49 

lop  &  Sprague  Co.  imitate  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  One  would  imagine 
that  these  indicia  would  facilitate  references,  and  would,  conse- 
quently, be  adopted  and  used  by  the  Agencies.  There  is  a  better 
reason  why  they  should  not  be  used.  The  number  of  a  street 
would  be  an  ineffaceable  sign  and  proof  of  the  age  or  incomplete- 
ness of  the  Agencies'  pretended  knowledge.  When  the  inquirer 
found  a  firm  located  in  Beaver  street  which  he  knew  had  moved 
two  years  ago  to  Barclay,  or  another  put  down  in  Wall  street 
which  had  long  since  taken  up  its  position  in  William  or  Nassau, 
what  could  he  think  of  the  freshness  and  value  of  the  intelligence 
possessed  by  the  Agencies  ?  If  so  plain  and  apparent  a  circum- 
stance is  found  overlooked  or  unknown,  what  warrant  can  he 
have  that  the  associated  syllabub  of  words  is  not  guess-work  of  the 
veriest  ?  Their  plan  is,  therefore,  to  avoid  every  sign  or  token  by 
which  a  tell-tale  error  might  have  ready  demonstration,  and  to 
lessen  the  chances  of  discovery  by  reducing  the  available  tests  of 
comparative  accuracy  to  the  minimum. 

We  recur  again  to  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  They  are  in  the 
same  box  with  the  rest,  as  a  few  examples  will  show. 

Hawkins  &  Hanken,  Builders'  Materials,  Brooklyn,  were  rated 
by  this  Agency  in  July,  18T3,  "  3,  3|,  6  "—that  is,  capital,  «  $3000  to 
$4000  " ;  credit,  "  fair  for  small  lines."  In  July,  1874,  we  find  them 
rated  "1|,  2,  2"— that  is,  capital,  from  "  $100,000  to  $200,000  "  ; 
credit,  "  very  high  and  very  good."  How  the  firm  managed  to  jump 
in  one  year  from  the  extreme  of  $4000  to  the  extreme  of  $200,000 
capital  is  best  known  to  themselves,  and  is  still  a  subject  of  serious 
consultation  with  the  Stockholders  of  the  New-York  Plaster  Works, 
who  lost  a  round  $5000  in  a  single  transaction  shortly  after  the 
appearance  of  the  latter  rating,  and  while  Hawkins  &  Hanken 
were  in  the  throes  of  monetary  death  ! 

Giroud  Bros.  &  Co.,  Cuban  Commission  House,  were  rated  in 
July,  1874,  by  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.,  at "  1,  If,  1"— that  is,  capi- 
tal, from  $300,000  to  $500,000  ;  credit, "  very  high  and  undoubted." 
Van  Tuyl  &  Co.,  Bankers,  being  about  to  discount  their  paper,  re- 
quested a  special  report.  It  confirmed  the  rating.  Within  a  few 
weeks,  and  while  the  favorable  report  was  still  fresh  in  memory, 
Giroud  Bros.  &  Co.'s  first  noteJt/br  a  small  sum,  went  to  protest, 
and  all  the  others  followed  suit,  to  the  confusion  of  the  Nation- 
al Park  Bank  and  Yan  Tuyl  &  Co.,  the  trusting  subscribers  to 


50  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.'s  unreliable  information  or  unfortunate 


J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son  will  afford  us  the  next  illustration  of 
procuring  information  on  which  their  subscribers  are  expected  to 
make  safe  bargains  and  sales.  M.  L.  Oberdorfer  &  Co.,  Wholesale 
Liquors,  Syracuse,  were  inquired  about,  in  November,  1872,  at  the 
principal  office,  in  New-York.  Bradstreet  had  then  no  office  in 
Syracuse,  a  city  of  50,000  inhabitants  and  controlling  one  of  the 
greatest  staple  products  of  the  State — Salt.  In  the  emergency  they 
wrote — not  telegraphed,  for  cheapness  is  everything— one  "Wil- 
liam O'Congr,  corner  Fayette  and  South  Salina  Streets,  the  keeper 
of  a  small  basement  restaurant,  who,  although  otherwise  an  excel- 
lent man,  was  as  wholly  unacquainted  with  the  standing  and  credit 
of  Oberdorfer  &  Co.  as  an  Aborigine  may  be  presumed  ignorant 
of  the  Transit  of  Venus.  O'Conor  used  to  show  the  inquiry  with 
commendable  pride ;  joked  his  customers  on  the  devious  ways  of 
commercial  credit,  and  relied  on  the  courtesy  of  some  one  to 
write  an  answer,  which  he  could  not  do  himself.  To  add  to  the 
value  of  the  epistle,  it  ought  to  be  said  that  neither  O'Conor  nor 
the  writer  ever  heard  of  Oberdorfer  until  the  arrival  of  Brad- 
street's  query ! 

One  of  the  dangers  of  this  method  of  repeating  inquiries  and 
trusting  to  random  in  the  affair  of  an  answer  may  be  noticed  in 
this  connection.  Bradstreet  &  Son  were  called  on  for  a  report  of 
one  Josiah  Tasker  in  the  same  year.  They  sent  by  post  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  for  the  material  for  an  opinion — to  Tasker's 
son-in-law !  The  Xew-York  creditor  probably  understands  by 
this  time  the  old  gentleman's  notions  about  his  own  standing.  As 
to  Bradstreet  &  Son,  they  will,  of  course,  be  obliged  to  the  writer 
for  posting  them  up  in  the  Tasker  family  history,  and  hinting  that 
a  slight  rebate  of  subscription  ought  to  be  allowed,  in  this  case,  to 
the  inquiring  firm. 

Going  back  to  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  we  close  this  chapter  with 
four  pregnant  examples  of  the  consequences  of  their  negligence 
or  complicity,  the  reader  can  decide  which  or  neither. 

In  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s  Reference  Book  dated  January,  18T2, 
occurs  the  following : 

"Oswego,  ]Sr.  Y.— TV.  II.  Herrick,  Sr.,  AgL  for  wife,  Com- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  51 

mission,  etc.,"  rated  "  K"— then  the  lowest  rating,  and  meaning 
"neither  capital  nor  credit" 

In  the  next  issue  of  the  Book,  July,  1872,  the  same  person  was 
rated  «  C  2  "—$100,000  to  $250,000  ;  credit,  "  High." 

NOTHING-  HAD  HAPPENED,  MEANTIME,  TO  "W.  H.  HERRICK,  SR., 

EXCEPT  THAT  HE  HAD  PAID  $100  SUBSCRIPTION,  "  PURELY  ON  GROUNDS 
OF  PERSONAL  FRIENDSHIP,"  AS  HIS  LETTER  STATED  ! 

In  this  month  of  July,  1872,  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  left  Her- 
rick's  rating  blank,  and  Hewlett,  Lathrop  &  Co.,  of  Oswego,  E".  Y., 
and  others,  subscribers  to  the  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  Agency,  bitterly, 
complained  of  the  effect  of  such  a  palpable  perversion  of  ink  and 
paper.  They  were  Millers,  and  knew  Herrick,  Sr.,  well  through 
grain  speculation.  Herrick  knew  the  Agency,  "  went  one  better," 
and  promptly  failed  for  a  sum  which  cannot  be  called  less  than 
respectable,  and  greatly  enlarged  by  the  friendly  "  C  2,"  on  grounds 
of  "  personal  friendship."  His  liabilities  were  $193,639.52,  with 
very  small  assets,  and  the  estate  is  now  in  Bankruptcy. 

About  the  29th  April,  1875,  the  Toronto  and  Montreal  sub- 
scribers of  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  enjoyed  a  startling  surprise — if  we 
call  that  a  surprise  which  the  commonest  acquaintance  with 
Agencies  should  have  taught  them  to  expect.  A  fashionable  young 
gentleman  named  Zevy,  or  rather  going  by  that  name,  entered  the 
City  of  Toronto  suddenly,  made  his  way  to  the  Agency  Office, 
and,  after  a  short  prelude  of  engaging  conversation,  told  Mathews, 
a  partner's  cousin,  in  charge  of  the  Branch,  that  he  had  just  arrived 
from  Germany,  was  about  to  open  a  Wine  and  Spice  House  in  the 
City,  and  carried  in  his  pocket  a  letter  of  credit  on  one  of  the 
local  banks  for  $15,000  "  to  pay  duties  on  the  first  consignments 
of  stock  of  the  parent  German  House"  to  its  Toronto  protege. 
Mathews  duly  gave  the  customary  attention  to  the  statement, 
did  not  go  to  the  trouble  of  verifying  it  by  calling  at  the  designat- 
ed Bank,  and  wrote  down  Zevy  &  Co.  as  a  new  firm  of  undoubt- 
ed capital  and  credit. 

Whether  from  confidence  in  his  arrangements  with  Mathews, 
or  in  utter  contempt  of  the  Agency's  simulation  of  effective  in- 
quiry, Zevy  did  not  deign  to  hurry  himself  in  executing  his 
swindle.  He  opened  a  Store ;  bought  in  Toronto,  at  his  leisure ; 
extended  his  speculations  to  Montreal,  where  the  Agency  report 
stood  him  in  stead  of  capital ;  bought  largely  there ;  sold  his  pur- 


52  THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

chases  in  the  vicinity  of  Toronto  without  ever  taking  them  from 
the  Depot ;  and  having  amassed  all  the  money  he  wanted,  except 
what  Ire  had  given  to  the  Agency  (if  any),  stuck  up  a  card  on  his 
Toronto  inagasin  that  the  death  of  his  mother  necessitated  a 
return  to  Germany ! 

If  any  one  wants  to  know  what  the  Merchants  of  Montreal 
and  Toronto  think  of  Agencies  in  general  and  Dun,  Barlow  & 
Co.'s  in  particular,  let  them  mention  Zevy  to  J.  Hope  &  Co.,  W. 
F.  Lewis  &  Co.,  or  any  of  the  dozen  other  merchants  swindled, 
and  be  convinced. 

The  present  manager  of  the  Montreal  Branch  is  W.  "W".  John- 
son, who  seems  to  have  as  ill  luck  in  giving  satisfaction  to  subscrib- 
ers as  either  of  his  predecessors.  A  special  friend  of  his,  up  to 
June,  18T5,  was  his  namesake  Johnston,  of  the  firm  of  Empey, 
Johnston  &  Co.,  Wholesale  Dry  Goods,  St.  Helen  street,  subscrib- 
ers and  rated  "  D  1£  "—that  is,  capital,  "  $50,000  to  8100,000  "  ; 
credit,  "  High."  In  the  last-mentioned  month,  notwithstanding  the 
rating,  the  firm  failed  for  $160,000,  of  which  loss,  largely  distri- 
buted between  the  Bank  of  Montreal  and  Christian,  Gault  &  Co., 
Bankers,  Kotre-Dame  street,  over  $70,000  may  ~be  fairly  charged  to 
have  ~been  rendered  possible  through  the  circumstances  stated.  It 
appears  that  the  Manager  was  not  content  with  rating  his  friends 
favorably  to  the  last :  he  "  drummed  them  up"  with  Banks  and 
Bankers.  He  represented  to  Mr.  Angus,  of  the  Bank  of  Mon- 
treal, that  the  firm  were  his  particular  friends ;  that  he  had  access 
to  their  Books ;  and  that  they  were  unassailable  in  credit  or  capi- 
tal. To  Mr.  Christian,  of  Christian,  Gault  &  Co.,  he  claimed  the 
like  personal  knowledge.  Both  gentlemen  believed  him,  and 
within  a  fortnight  Empey,  Johnston  &  Co.  were  insolvent,  with 
$160,000  liabilities ! 

Some  years  ago  Davis  &  Welsh  failed  in  the  same  City,  and 
Henry  Davis  &  Co.  rose  on  their  ruin  and  commenced  anew. 
They  subscribed  $75  to  the  Agency,  and  got  a  very  favorable  rat- 
ing and  private  report,  in  consequence,  from  Manager  Johnson. 
In  June,  1875,  they  failed  for  between  $700,000  and  $800,000,  and 
James  Court,  their  Assignee,  has  offered  ten  cents  on  the  dollar  on 
their  liabilities  to  their  victims.  In  other  words,  there  had  been 
no  capital  of  any  account  in  the  firm  ;  but  the  private  reports  of 
the  Agency  had  been  used  in  their  favor  by  some  understanding, 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  53 

and  a  profitable  bankruptcy  became  practicable.  Like  all  the 
Managers,  Johnson  lives  well,  enjoys  yachting  and  diversions, 
and  would  repel  no  one  by  either  the  dignity  of  his  conversation 
nor  the  asceticism  of  his  manners.  For  our  own  part,  we  are 
confident  he  did  not  lose  a  dollar  by  the  suspension  of  either 
Empey,  Johnston  &  Co.  or  Henry  Davis  &  Co. 

On  the  4th  day  of  May,  1868,  Robert  Macfarlan,  deposing  be- 
fore Judge  Mondelet,  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  Province  of 
Quebec,  answered  as  follows : 

"  I  am  aware  that  a  number  subscribe  to  the  Agency ;  but  the 
"  information  furnished  is  of  such  an  unreliable  nature  that  the 
"  slightest  dependence  is  not  to  be  placed  on  it,  as,  from  personal 
"  experience,  we  have  'made  'more  bad  debts  through  information 
"  received  from  them  as  being  correct,  while  ice  have  afterwards 
"found  it  to  be  incorrect  and  not  reliable" 

Being  further  questioned : 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  when  a  Merchant  gives  a  correct 
"  statement  of  his  affairs  to  the  Mercantile  Agency,  the  latter 
"  would  give  an  incorrect  or  unreliable  statement  of  the  standing 
"  of  such  Merchant  2" 

He  answered : 

"  ANY    INSTITUTION    WHICH    ATTEMPTS    TO    LEVY    BLACKMAIL    AND 

"  WILL  MARK  YOUR  CREDIT  ACCORDINGLY,  I  do   not  consider  that 
"  much  reliance  is  to  be  placed  on  their  statement,  so  that  I  think 
"  they  are  not  to  be  depended  upon  to  give  a  correct  statement, 
"  even  when  they  obtain  correct  information." 
Further  on  in  his  examination  the  witness  said : 
"  He  "  (Lugsdin,  Manager  for  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.)  "  said  that 
"  the  Agency  was  a  powerful   institution ;  that  it    could  raise 
"firms  without  any  means  and  cast  down  the  best-established 
"  institutions." 

This  Mr.  Macfarlan  is  the  gentleman  who  allowed  an  Agency 
Manager  to  borrow  $800  from  him ;  but  he  is  under  oath,  and 
comes  into  court  to  explain  how  he  became  insolvent  propitiously 
and  soon  after  receiving  large  consignments  from  London  on  the 
repute  of  an  Agency  report/  His  relations  with  the  Agency 
enabled  him  to  speak  with  knowledge.  If  he  evince  no  respect 
for  their  honesty,  he  is  not  inexperienced  in  its  methods  of  exhibi- 
tion ;  and  if  he  think  little  of  their  usefulness  to  respectable 


54  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

traders,  lie  certainly  enables  us  to  learn  the  highest  claimed  faculty 
of  the  institution — namely,  "  that  it  could  raise  firms  without  any 
means" 

Well,  this  is  refreshing,  whether  we  consider  its  candor  or 
morality!  " liaising  firms  without  means"!  Is  it  not  decoying 
subscribers  into  crediting  swindlers,  and  is  not  decoying  subscri- 
bers into  such  credits  playing  the  role  of  a  confidence  operator  for 
a  share  of  the  "  swag "  ?  And  yet  this  opportunity  was  the 
faculty  which  Manager  Lugsdin  thought  to  be  most  assuring  and 
convincing  when  he  wanted  a  loan  or  desired  a  subscription. 

These  facts,  selected  at  random  from  thousands  occurring  all 
over  the  country,  leave  no  room  to  doubt — 

I.  That  the  Agencies  are  a  danger,  as  well  as  a  menace,  to  the 
business  community. 

II.  That  they  are  often  ignorant  and  profoundly  reckless. 

III.  That  they  are  moved  to  these  extraordinary  freaks  by 
considerations  of  some  kind  sufficient  to  overcome  the  scruples 
and  circumspection  of  an  ordinary  caution  or  a  politic  silence. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  .    55 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  CHANGES  IN  SUBSCRIPTIONS— WHAT  CAUSES  THEM  ?— THE 
AGENCIES  AS  WITNESSES  AGAINST  THEMSELVES— THE  OLD  AND 
NEW  AGREEMENTS  AND  SECRET  CIRCULAR— ATTEMPTS  TO 
DUPE  SUBSCRIBERS. 

WHEN  the  agencies  were  first  introduced  they  asked  for  confi- 
dence and  patronage  on  the  ground  of  promoting  safe  trading  by 
special  knowledge,  carefully  acquired,  by  fitting  persons.  They 
pretended  to  Merchants  that  they  could  supply  the  place  of  person- 
al inquiry  and  secure  accuracy,  promptly,  over  a  large  extent  of 
territory  with  the  same  certainty  as  over  a  small  one.  They  pitch- 
ed their  charges  on  this  basis ;  and  although  the  three  agencies  have 
existed,  in  one  form  or  another,  a  conjoint  life  of  90  years,  they 
have  only  been  able  to  acquire  from  25,000  to  30,000  yearly 
subscribers  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  Even  this,  their 
highest  success  as  to  numbers,  is  the  result  of  a  constantly  shift- 
ing subscription — the  number  of 'subscribers  who  have  paid  and 
withdrawn  during  the  term,  tired  of  the  affair  or  indignant  at  its 
uselessness  or  bad  faith,  being  at  least  200,000  !  That  is  to  say 
their  existence  has  been  preserved,  not  by  the  continued  support 
of  any  respectable  portion  of  the  subscribers  who  have  had  experi- 
ence of  the  merits  of  the  Institutions,  but  by  the  slowly-produced 
results  of  canvassing  in  new  quarters,  rating  new  names,  serving  a 
fraudulent  end,  or  showing  a  rod  to  new  enterprises.  It  may  even 
be  doubted  if,  in  the  three  Subscription  Lists  of  Dun,  Barlow  & 
Co.,  MeKillop  &  Sprague  Co.,  and  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son,  one 
hundred  subscribers'  names  can  be  found  who  have  kept  their 
subscriptions  intact  for  a  period  of  ten  years  consecutively,  even 
where  the  names,  firans,  and  business  continued  identical ! 

This  fact  is  a  pregnant  proof  of  what  the  subscribers  think  of 
the  system.  Coaxed  or  bullied  into  it  at  the  start ;  using  it  as  a 
means  of  temporary  credit  for  a  passing  purpose,  we  yet  find 


5G  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

them  dropping  away  from  it  at  the  first  opportunity,  and  leaving 
the  load  of  its  exactions  to  be  borne  by  more  unsophisticated  and 
less  experienced  recruits. 

If  we  examine  the  lowering  of  the  pretences  in  the  agencies 
themselves,  we  will  see  a  similar  change  going  on  year  by  year. 
In  fact,  nothing  about  them  is  so  remarkable  as  the  self-supplied 
proofs  which  they  afford  of  a  desire  to  reduce  their  own  claims  to 
accuracy  and  responsibility  as  they  grow  older.  This  is  not  the 
tendency  of  honest  business.  Whatever  may  happen  to  an  old-es- 
tablished house,  owing  to  vicissitudes  of  trade,  it  is  always  sure  to 
claim  an  increase  of  facilities  and  a  better  experience  in  catering 
to  the  wants  of  customers,  as  tune  passes.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
agencies,  as  they  grow  in  age,  lessen  their  pretensions,  and  after 
starting  into  life  on  the  plea  of  promoting  trade  by  giving  reliable 
information  about  traders,  they  come  out,  after  a  long  struggle  for 
existence,  and  disclaim  every  thought  of  giving  •  trustworthy  or 
reliable  intelligence  ! 

The  most  flagrant  example  of  this  reductio  ad  absurdum  pro- 
cess is  to  be  found  in  contracts  made  by  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  with 
their  subscribers.  The  facts  and  reasoning  are  equally  applicable 
to  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  and  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son,  but  we 
select  the  first-named  firm  in  preference,  because  they  have  more 
elaborately  and  lately  supplied  us  with  conclusive  arguments  out 
of  their  own  mouths. 

Here  is  a  copy  of  the  first,  or  old  agreement,  as  it  is  known, 
made  by  the  agency  : 

THE  OLD  AGREEMENT. 
TEEMS   OF   SUBSCRIPTION   TO   THE   MERCANTILE   AGENCY. 

"  In  consideration  of  the  agreement  hereby  entered  into  by  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  to 
"  furnish  TO  THE  BEST  OP  THEIR  ABILITY  information  of  the  Mercantile  Standing  and 
"  Credit  (in  the  communities  wherein  they  respectively  reside)  of  our  customers  among 
"  the  Manufacturers,  Merchants,  Traders,  &c.,  throughout  the  United  States  and  in  the 
"  Dominion  of  Canada  concerning  whom  we  have  occasion  to  make  inquiry  in  order  to 
"  aid  us  in  determining  the  propriety  of  giving  credit,  we,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby 
"  constitute  and  appoint  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  our  agents  to  procure  and  furnish  to 
"  ns  the  information  aforesaid,  in  accordance  with  the  following  rules  and  stipulations, 
"  and  with  which  we  agree  to  comply  faithfully,  to  wit : 

"  1.  All  information  furnished  us  by  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  shall  be  strictly  confl- 
"  dential,  and  all  extended  reports  are  to  be  read  at  their  office  to  us  or  to  such  confiden- 
"  tial  clerk  as  may  be  authorized  by  us  to  receive  the  same  subject  to  their  regulations. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  57 

And  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  shall  prepare  for  our  use,  and  place  in  our  keeping,  a 
printed  copy  of  a  Reference  Book  prepared  by  them  containing  ratings  or  markings 
of  the  credit  of  business  men.  And  all  inquiries  at  their  office,  as  also  all  use  we  may 
make  of  said  Reference  Book,  shall  be  exclusively  confined  to  the  legitimate  business 
of  our  establishment. 

"  2.  The  information,  reports  or  ratings,  and  markings  which  we,  our  agents,  or 
clerks  may  so  obtain  from  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  shall  never  in  any  way,  by  exhibit, 
copy,  or  other-wise,  be  communicated  to  the  persons  reported,  nor  ito  any  other  person  or 
persons  whatever  other  than  the  members  of  our  firm. 

"  3.  The  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  shall  provide  themselves  with  the  names  of  Law- 
yers, throughout  the  United  States  and  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  carefully  selected 
as  to  capability  and  reliability,  of  which  we  may  avail  ourselves  from  time  to  time  as 
occasion  for  their,  prof essional  services  in  our  business  may  arise,  or  said  Dun,  Bar- 
low &  Co.  shall,  if  we  prefer  it,  take  charge  of  our  collections  themselves,  on  terms 
customary  in  that  department  of  their  business  to  regular  subscribers. 

"  4.  We  will  pay,  in  advance,  for  one  year's  services  of 

said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  together  with  the  use  of  said  Reference  Book  pursuant  to 

the  foregoing  conditions,  and  at  the  end  of  months  from  the  date  hereof 

we  will  return  the  said  Reference  Book  to  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co. 


'< ,     ....day  of  ,     18    ." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  this  agreement  provides  for  the  agency 
becoming  the  agents  of  subscribers  merely  to  furnish  "  to  the  best 
of  their  ability  information,"  etc.,  in  order  to  aid  the  subscriber,  or 
principal,  in  determining  the  propriety  of  giving  credit,  BUT  DOES 
NOT  BELIEVE  THE  AGENCY  from  the  consequences  of  ignorance,  er- 
ror, or  mistake,  as  such  agents.  Whatever  else  may  be  said  about 
it,  it  certainly  held  out,  in  fact  and  law,  the  idea  of  some  respon- 
sibility for  the  information  conveyed  ;  and  by  just  so  much  was  an 
earnest  of  a  pretence,  of  some  kind,  for  the  compensation  received. 
Joined  to  a  belief  that  the  agency  possessed  facilities  for  examina- 
tion superior  to  those  of  a  private  individual,  and  was  in  constant 
and  exclusive  exercise  of  them,  this  strong  presumption  of  being 
responsible  for  the  consequences  of  errors,  mistakes,  or  ignorance 
went  far  to  deceive  the  public  in  the  first  instance.  For  a  long 
period,  because  of  restricted  circulation,  or  the  few  transactions 
made  solely  on  agency  information,  or  the  vagueness  of  the  in- 
formation conveyed,  or  the  judicious  settlement,  by  compromise, 
higher  ratings,  or  otherwise,  of  claims  made  against  them,  the 
true  intent  and  purpose  of  the  agency,  to  be  and  -remain  irre- 
sponsible, was  not  suspected  or  brought  into  serious  question. 
The  agency  preferred  the  public  should  believe  in  accountabili- 
ty. The  belief  increased  subscriptions.  Subscriptions  enough  at- 
tained to  assure  the  enterprise,  the  true  intent  of  the  agency 


58  THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 

might  be  carried  out  and  profitable  evasion  perpetuated.  As 
time  passed,  however,  some  subscribers  here  and  there  were 
foolish  enough  to  rely  wholly  on  statements  furnished ;  the 
consequences  were,  of  course,  disastrous  ;  the  sufferers  commenc- 
ed reclamations  on  the  agency,  and  the  latter  wheedled  them 
into  quiet  as  best  it  could,  and  turned  to  "  seven  or  eight 
leading  legal  minds  of  the  country"  for  the  purpose  of  devis- 
ing a  "  new  agreement  "  which  should  leave  them  legally  irre- 
sponsible to  subscribers,  without  causing  the  subscribers  to  dis- 
cover that  they  were  being  cozened  out  of  rights  already  paid 
for.  The  following  is  the  result  of  the  labored  consultation 
between  the  "  leading  legal  minds  of  the  country"  : 

THE  NEW  AGREEMENT. 
TEEMS    OF    SUBSCRIPTION   TO   THE   MERCANTILE    AGENCY. 

"  Memorandum  of  the  agreement  between  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  the 
"  Mercantile  Agency,  on  the  one  part,  and  the  undersigned,  subscribers  to  the  said 
"  agency,  on  the  other  part,  namely  : 

"  The  said  Proprietors  are  to  communicate  to  us,  on  request,  for  our  use  in  our  busi- 
"  ness,  as  an  aid  to^ls  in  determining  the  propriety  of  giving  credit,  such  information 
"  as  they  may  possess  concerning  the  mercantile  standing  and  credit  of  Merchants, 
"  Traders,  Manufacturers,  etc.,  throughout  the  United  States  and  in  the  Dominion  of 
"  Canada.  It  is  agreed  that  such  information  HAS  MAINLY  BEEN,  AND  SHALL  MAINLY 
"  BE,  OBTAINED  AND  COMMUNICATED  by  servants,  clerks,  attorneys,  and  employees, 
"  appointed  as  our  sub-agents  in  our  behalf  by  the  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  The  said  in- 
"  formation  to  be  communicated  by  the  said  Dun.  Barlow  &  Co.  in  accordance  with 
"  the  following  rules  and  stipulations,  with  which  we,  subscribers  to  the  agency  as 
"  aforesaid,  agree  to  comply  faithfully,  to  wit  : — 

"  1.  All  verbal,  written,  or  printed  information  communicated  to  us,  or  to  such  confi- 
"  dential  clerk  as  may  be  authorized  by  us  to  receive  the  same,  and  all  use  of  the  Ref  er- 
"  ence  Book  hereinafter  named,  and  the  Notification  Sheet  of  corrections  of  said 
"  Book,  shall  be  strictly  confidential  and  exclusively  confined  to  the  business  of  our 
"  establishment,  and  shall  ne"erbe  communicated  to  the  persons  reported,  nor  to  any  other 
"  person  or  persons  whatever  other  than  members  of  our  firm. 

"2.  The  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  SHALL  NOT  BE  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  ANY  LOSS  CAUSED 

"BY  THE  NEGLECT  OF  ANY  OF  THE  SAID  SERVANTS,  ATTORNEYS,  CLERKS,  AND  EMPLOYEES 
"  IX  PROCURING,  COLLECTING,  AND  COMMUNICATING  THE  SAID  INFORMATION,  AND  THE 

"  ACTUAL  truth  or  correctness  of  said  information  is  in  no  manner  guaranteed  by  the  said  Dun, 
"  Barlow  &  Co.  The  action  of  said  agency  being  of  necessity  almost  entirely  confiden- 
"  tial  in  nil  its  departments  and  details,  the  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  shall  never,  un- 
"  der  any  circumstances,  be  required  by  the  subscriber  to  disclose  the  name  of  any  such 
"  servant,  clerk,  attorney,  or  employee,  or  any  fact  whatever  concerning  him  or  her,  or 
"  concerning  the  means  or  sources  by  or  from  which  any  information  so  possessed  or 
"  communicated  was  obtained. 

"  3.  The  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  are  hereby  requested  to  place  in  our  keeping,  for 
"  our  exclusive  use,  aprintedcopy  of  a  Reference-Book,  containing  ratings  or  markings 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  59 

'  of  estimated  capital  and  relative  credit  standing  of  such  business  men  as  aforesaid, 
'  prepared  by  them  or  servants,  clerks,  attorneys,  and  employees  aforesaid,  together 
'  with  Notification  Sheet  of  corrections.  We  further  agree  that,  upon  the  delivery  to 

•  us  of  any  subsequent  edition  of  the  Reference  Book,  the  one  now  placed  in  our  hands 
;  shall  be  surrendered  to  them,  and  also  that,  upon  the  termination  of  our  relation  as 

•  subscribers,  the  copy  then  remaining  in  our  hands  shall  be  given  up  to  the  said  Dun, 
Barlow  &  Co.,  it  being  clearly  understood  and  agreed  upon  that  the  title  to  said  Re- 
ference-Book is  vested  and  remains  in  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co. 

"4.  Wewill  pay,  in  advance, dollars  for  one  year's  services  from  the 

date  hereof,  of  said  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  together  with  the  use  of  said  Reference  Book, 
pursuant  to  the  foregoing  conditions,  and  such  other  sum  annually  thereafter  for  the 
same  as  may  be  agreed  upon  between  us  verbally  or  otherwise,  subject  always  to  the 
conditions  and  obligations  above  mentioned. 

"  5.  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  are  hereby  permitted  to  reserve  to  themselves  the  right  to 
terminate  this  subscription  at  any  time,  on  the  repayment  of  the  amount  for  the  unex- 
pired  portion  thereof. 


« ,    ....  day  of  ,18    ." 

This  new  agreement,  if  only  used  with  new  subscribers,  would 
be  simply  an  open  confession  that  the  agency  had  discovered,  and 
was  ready  to  admit,  in  a  roundabout  way,  its  incompetency  as  a  re- 
sponsible adviser  ;  but  used  as  a  substitute  with  old  subscribers,  who 
had  paid  their  hundreds  or  thousands  of  dollars  under  the  old  con- 
tract, it  was  nothing  less  than  a  gross  deceit,  repugnant  to  the 
minds  of  all  honorable  merchants,  devised  by  the  "  seven  or  eight 
leading  legal  minds  of  the  country."  Fortunately  we  need  waste 
no  words  in  characterizing  this  conduct.  The  agency,  by  the  fol- 
lowing secret  circular,  dated  March  9th,  1875,  and  forwarded  to 
branch  offices,  renders  language  other  than  its  own  superfluous : 

"THE    NEW   AGREEMENT." 

(PRIVATE.) 

"  To  MANAGERS  : 

"  The  exigencies  of  business,  and  the  adaptation  of  the  Mercantile  Agency  thereto, 

"  have  rendered  necessary  some  alterations  in  the  Terms  of  Subscription,  in  order  to 
afford  us  effectual  protection ;  and,  after  very  careful  deliberation  among  ourselves, 
with  the  suggestions  of  seven  or  eight  of  the  leading  legal  minds  of  the  country,  we 
have  adopted  the  accompanying  form,  which,  we  think,  affords  us  the  protection 
sought,  and  which  we  desire  shall  hereafter  be  used,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  ot7iers.  We 
further  desire  to  have  the  present  form  substituted  gradually  (in  making  renewals, 
etc.,)  for  those  already  signed.  There  may  be  some  little  trouble  in  doing  this,  in  indi- 
vidual cases,  but  a  little  tact  will  overcome  it.  All  the  old  forms  now  in  your  possession 
must  be  destroyed  at  once,  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  their  being  used  after  this 
notice. 
"  In  connection  with  this  subject,  we  desire  to  draw  your  attention  to  a  practice — 


CO  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

"  now  prevalent,  more  or  less,  everywhere — of  asking,  by  telegraph  or  letter,  whether 
"  parties  named  are  good  for  specified  sums  or  not.  It  is  an  objectionable  form  of  in- 
"  quiry,  for  no  one  can  tell  what  amount  any  man  is  good  for  on  an  individual  transaction 
"  without  knowing  all  his  other  transactions  at  the  same  time.  In  giving  information,  never 
"  say  a  man  or  firm  is  good  for  any  amount ;  rather  substitute  for  it  a  form  of  expression 
:l  more  guarded,  by  saying  they  are  '  thought  to  be,'  or  '  supposed  to  be,'  or ' '  our  impression 
'  is  they  are  so, '  etc. ,  etc.  We  have  a  troublesome  suit  now  in  Montreal  growing  out  of  this 
'  objectionable  practice,  and  although  we  have  no  great  uneasiness  about  its  final  deci- 
'  sion,  still,  we  feel  satisfied,  it  would  not  have  been  commenced  at  all  if  the  objec- 
'  tionable  form  of  expression  had  not  been  used.  We  want  to  discourage  suits  quite 
'  as  much  as  to  defend  them  successfully. 

"  It  is  very  essential  that  the  question  of  liability  sJiould  be  discussed  as  little  as  possible. 
'  We  do  not  want  public  attention  or  the  attention  of  our  Subscribers  drawn  to  it  unnecessari- 
'  ly,  and  we  therefore  desire  you  to  keep  this  communication  as  much  as  possible  to  yourselves. 
'  The  plea  for  the  substitution  of  the  new  Terms  of  Subscription  must  be,  that  the 
'  original  contract  was  framed  many  years  ago,  before  the  business  had  assumed  any- 
'  thing  like  its  present  magnitude  ;  that  it  did  not  cover  the  Reference  Book  and  Noti- 
'  fication  Sheet ;  that  it  required  all  reports  to  be  read  at  the  office  ;  that  the  principle 
'  of  privileged  communications  was  not  as  well  understood  then  as  now,  and  that  the  whole 
1  question  of  Agencies,  owing  to  recent  decisions  in  Court,  had  been  so  much  chang- 
'  ed  that,  under  the  advice  of  eminent  counsel,  we  had  decided  to  make  some  neces- 
'  sary  alterations,  in  order  to  have  the  relations  between  our  subscribers  and  ourselves 
'  more  clearly  defined,  etc. ,  etc. 

"  We  are  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  "  DUN,  BARLOW  &  CO. 
"  NEW- YORK,  March  9,  1875." 

This  general  order  from  the  Agency  to  its  clerks  to  enter  on  a 
systematic  course  of  deception  with  the  principals  of  both,  is  a 
rare  and  instructive  lesson  in  Agency  morality  and  methods. 
Managers  systematically  taught  to  afford  their  Co- Agents  "  effec- 
tual protection"  by  lying  to  the  man  who  employs  both,  must  be 
safe  and  fit  persons  from  whom  to  expect  conscientious  ratings  or 
to  withstand  bribes !  Low-salaried  clerks,  far  removed  from  the 
protecting  inorality  of  the  principal  office  in  New-York,  and 
drilled  with  elaborate  detail  in  tricks  of  sleight-of-hand  substi- 
tution of  one  thing  for  another ;  enjoined  to  the  use  of  tact  and 
the  finest  phrases  of  verbal  dissimulation ;  exhorted  to  appreciate 
the  essential  necessity,  in  this  business,  that  the  question  of 
liability  should  not  l>e  drawn  to  the  minds  of  subscribers ;  these 
surely  must  be  fit  and  proper  guardians  of  business  men's  repu- 
tations and  gangers  of  commercial  honor  ! 

But  the  force  of  this  circular  lies  in  something  else  than  its 
inculcation  of  deceit,  and  dissimulation,  and  paltering  words.  It 
concedes  away  the  whole  raison  d'etre  of  Agencies,  their  reason  to 
be,  or  to  be  regarded  as,  l)on'a-fide  establishments.  If  the  Agencies 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  61 

can  never  say  "  a  man  or  firm  is  good  for  any  amount ; "  if  "  no 
"  one  can  tell  what  amount  any  man  is  good  for  on  an  individual 
"  transaction  without  knowing  all  his  other  transactions  at  the 
"  same  time ;"  if  the  Agencies  do  not  pretend  to  know  these,  or 
enough  of  them,  to  have  an  opinion ;  if  they  can  only  say  they 
"  have  an  impression"  of  a  man,  or  the  man  is  "  thought  to  be," 
or  only  "  supposed  to  be,"  good,  or  in  credit,  what  can  the  Agencies 
do  to  earn  $8,000,000  a  year  ?  They  concede  their  incompetency 
by  stipulating  to  evade  responsibility.  They  admit  their  ignorance 
by  providing  for  its  expression  in  the  most  self -protecting  words. 
They  say,  in  effect,  all  we  can  say  of  them  :  they  are  willing  and 
anxious  to  get  the  public's  money,  but  what  to  return  for  it  except 
facilities  for  fraud,  by  third  parties,  must  remain  a,  profound  mys- 
tery to  themselves  and  the  public,  "  passing  understanding." 


62  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

DISPENSATIONS  OF  PROVIDENCE  OR  WHAT  ?— THE  SECRET  BLACK 
LIST— WHAT  IT  IS,  WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

A  REFERENCE  to  the  Secret  Reports  and  Black  Lists,  preserved, 
read,  and  circulated  on  request  but  never  published,  is  now  in 
order. 

In  Banking  and  negotiating  Railroad  Securities  there  are  few 
older  or  more  stable  houses  than  M.  K.  Jesup,  Paton  &  Co.,  52 
William  Street,  New- York  City.  Their  credit  has  never  been 
doubted.  They  are  reported  in  the  Reference  Books  as  "  in  un- 
"  doubted  credit."  Call  on  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  and  you  will  be 
forthwith  put  on  your  guard.  The  person  in  charge  of  their  New- 
York  City  Department  will  tell  you,  with  a  knowing  leer,  "  Jes- 
"  up  has  taken  care  of  No.  1  all  his  life,  and  will  continue  to  do  so." 
If  this  be  not  sufficient  to  startle  you,  he  will  add,  "  He  is  not 
"  considered  by  some  very  reliable,  not  strictly  reliable,  and  only  be- 
"  lieved  safe  for  engagements  when  strictly  denned."  What  effect 
these  sardonic  utterances  may  have  had  on  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co., 
the  Merchants'  Bank  of  Canada,  and  the  various  others  to  whom 
they  have  been  retailed,  we  know  not ;  but  they  are  strange  things 
to  say  or  write  of  a  gentleman  whom  the  Agency  is  obliged  to  ad- 
mit is  worth  over  one  million  dollars  and  free  of  outstanding 
debts !  We  think  it  may  be  said,  however,  that  A.  T.  Stewart 
has  bought  no  exchange  through  Jesup  &  Co.  since  this  coward- 
ly and  unmerited  imputation  was  imparted ;  and  that  Mr.  Jesup 
has  continued  to  forward  subscriptions  to  his  secret  assailants,  with- 
out "  caring  so  much  for  No.  1"  as  they  would  have  people  believe. 
With  the  information  now  first  imparted  to  Mr.  Jesup,  is  it  too 
broad  to  advise  that  he  increase  his  subscription  and  await  results  ? 

Among  the  long  catalogue  of  merchants  favorably  reported  in 
the  Reference  Book  and  subjected  in  the  Secret  Reports  to  such 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  63 

aspersions  on  their  business  ability,  and  sucli  imputations  on  their 
integrity  of  character,  as  we  have  noticed,  J.  &  W.  Seligman  & 
Co.,  the  well-known  German  Banking  House,  whose  estimated 
cash  capital  is  $10,000,000,  fills  a  conspicuous  place.  This  great 
house  has  stood  above  criticism  or  suspicion  since  its  organization. 
Panics  have  come  and  gone  and  left  it  unaffected.  The  especial 
favorites  of  Mercantile  and  Commercial  Agencies  have  sunk 
around  it  by  the  hundred.  Trial  may  be  said  never  to  have 
reached  it,  for  its  foundations  were  laid  in  the  eternal  verities  of  a 
practically  inexhaustible  capital  operating  on  an  unchangeably  re- 
liable German  constituency.  It  could  not  be  assailed  or  depre- 
ciated openly  without  stultification  to  the  assailant ;  yet  it  is 
secretly  represented  as  "  not  considered  entirely  reliable,"  and  as  a 
house  "  only  believed  safe  for  engagements  when  clearly  defined, 
"  and  which  Ioo7^s,  above  all  things,  well  after  its  own  interests." 
Not  reliable !  Where  did  any  Agency  find  reason  or  authority  for 
so  sweeping  a  characterization  ?  Only  fit  to  be  dealt  with  as  a  man 
would  deal  with  a  notorious  rogue — on  a  "clearly  defined"  basis ! 
Who  has  ever  had  such  a  thought  of  the  Seligmans  ?  The  base  fling 
is  without  the  slightest  pretence  of  truth,  and  must  have  been  in- 
dulged in  for  some  purpose  discreditable  to  the  utterer.  How  can 
it  have  an  honorable  explanation  ?, 

The  contrasted  case  of  Duncan,  Sherman  &  Co.  is  more  recent 
and  as  suggestive.  William  Butler  Duncan,  the  Maecenas  of  New- 
York  Merchants,  the  exemplar  of  high  business  and  personal 
honor — if  the  Agencies  were  to  be  trusted — was  hopelessly  in- 
volved when  they  complimented  him  as  highest  in  credit  and 
means;  and  it  sounds  odd  to  learn  now,  from  the  Courts  and 
Orders  of  Arrest,  that  his  father  was  a  secret  creditor  all  the  time, 
holding  the  greater  part  of  the  son's  real  estate  in  unrecorded 
Deeds,  placed  on  file  for  the  first  time  two  days  before  the  failure. 
It  turns  out  now  that  the  firm  was  only  worth  a  third  of  their  in- 
debtedness at  the  very  hour  when  the  Agencies  were  heralding 
their  "money-making  investments"  and  advertising  them  to  all 
comers  as  in  "  unlimited  credit,"  when  many  merchants,  taking 
their  information  from  more  reliable  sources,  knew  them  to  be 
embarrassed  for  years  and  in  hourly  danger  of  failure!  In  other 
words,  the  Agencies  rated  them  worth  "  one  million  and  over ;" 
that  is,  over  all  liabilities ;  so  that,  in  sober  fact,  they  were  about 


G±  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

three  millions  in  error  !  Besides,  it  is  now  stated  that,  instead  of 
having  £30,000  to  their  ^  credit  in  London,  they  really  owed 
£139,000  to  the  Union  Bank  of  that  city — a  further  error  or  fraud 
of  nearly  $700,000 !  Of  course  they  subscribed  to  the  Agencies 
and  paid  them  liberally.  How  other  subscribers  were  led  into  the 
catastrophe  is  best  known  to  the  sufferers. 

From  these  seriously-meant  accusations  of  incapacity  and  want 
of  reliability  against  the  very  best  men  and  firms  in  New-York, 
and  false  and  fulsome  eulogies  of  the  insolvent  or  fraudulent,  the 
transition  of  the  illiterate  ghouls  of  the  Agency  is  easy  and  natural 
to  the  drivel  of  scandal  and  stutterings  of  doubt  against  less  re- 
markable but  equally  solvent  persons  and  firms. 

One  gentleman,  prominently  identified  with  a  leading  Hotel, 
and  in  excellent  credit  and  standing  judged  by  the  Reference 
Book,  is  announced  in  the  Secret  Reports  to  have  "  no,  or  only  a 
"  doubtful,  capital ;"  as  a  "  frequent  borrower  of  money,  largely  in 
"  debt  to  Mrs.  James  Fisk :  from  this  source  he  has  facilities  for 
"raising  money;  is  of  expensive  and  extravagant,  as  well  as  some 
"  disreputable,  habits."  We  do  not  know  what  the  commentator 
meant  by  collocating  "  disreputable  habits"  with  the  source  of  the 
means ;  but  a  more  malignant  and  dangerous  attack  on  the  sacred- 
ness  of  private  reputation,  male  or  female,  is  not  often  made. 

In  the  successful  Publisher  of  some  of  the  best,  purest,  and 
most  enjoyable  literature  of  the  day,  a  man  whose  capital  and 
credit  are  certified  in  all  the  Agency  Books,  and  whose  social  life 
is  certainly  respectable  judged  by  any  standard,  the  same  ghoul 
has  discovered  a  monster — "  a  man  of  notoriously  bad  character,  a 
"  free-liver,  a  keeper  of  fast  horses,  and  an  as'sociator  with  males 
"  and  females  of  doubtful  character."  The  gentleman  so  assailed 
never  had  a  fast  horse,  as  matter  of  fact ;  but  if  he  had,  Belmont 
has  a  dozen,  Bonner  more,  and  Yanderbilt  enough  to  deserve  the 
stigma.  The  gentleman  so  assailed  never  associated  with  males 
and  females  of  doubtful  character  any  more  than  every  one  is 
compelled  to  do  who  passes  through  the  world  in  any  public  posi- 
tion and  is  obliged,  by  his  daily  duties,  to  extend  the  courtesies  of 
life  to  those  with  whom  he  may  come  in  contact.  But  there  are 
men  who,  in  pursuit  of  some  hobby,  go  out  of  their  way  to  asso- 
ciate with  persons  of  whose  "  character"  there  is  no  doubt  whatever, 
as  that  abused  word  is  applied,  and  yet  the  Agency  moralist  is 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  65 

exceedingly  careful  to  overlook  matter  of  common  notoriety.  We 
can  point  to  at  least  one  hundred  names,  highly  complimented  by 
them  for  "  character,"  who  travel  away  from  their  ostensible  busi- 
ness, whenever  an  occasion  offers,  to  frequent  gambling-hells,  to 
play  "  sport"  on  race-courses,  and  to  lead  a  life  of  extravagance, 
excitement,  and  conspicuous  sensuality.  How  these  persons  have 
escaped  censure  when  better-conducted  men  have  been  singled 
out  for  attack  and  condemnation,  the  experts  in  human  motives 
must  imagine  for  themselves.  Did  they  strike  their  colors  and 
lighten  their  coffers  on  sighting  a  piratical  craft  ?  Did  they  pur- 
chase exemption  from  the  penalties  of  the  proscription  by  a  timely 
ransom  ?  The  mendacious  details  which  enter  into  these  infamous 
records  are  not  worth  further  illustration.  How  some  respectable 
and  reputable  business  men  are  spoken  of  as  "  only  fit  for  a  public 
"•institution  where  they  could  get  their  board  and  lodging  for 
"nothing;"  how  family  affairs  of  great  age  and  no  value  are  mable 
to  serve  a  present  resentment ;  how  matrons'  names  are  associated 
with  fraudulent  transactions  of  which  they  never  heard,  may  be 
readily  inferred  from  what  has  been  written.  It  is  sufficient  for 
our  present  purpose  to  say  :  Over  eight  thousand  four  hundred 
Merchants  and  Firms  in  the  City  of  ^New-York  alone  are  rated 
well  and  favorably  as  to  capital  and  credit  in  the  Reference 
Books  of  the  Agencies,  and  scandalously  assailed,  to  every  applicant, 
in  their  honor,  character,  and  business  integrity  in  these  Private 
Reports.  Throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada  over  ninety 
thousand  others  are  treated  to  the  same  public  compliment  .and 
secret  detraction.  Is  it  possible  to  reconcile  the  printed  report 
and  spoken  lie  coming  from  the  same  origin  ?  If  the  slander  be 
true,  or  believed  to  be  true  by  the  slanderers,  why  do  they  lie  in 
print  ?  If  the  printed  statement  be  true,  why  do  they  asperse  and 
falsify  privately  ? 

The  manner  of  these  secret  reports  is  as  bad  as  the  matter  of 
them.  The  same  hand  can  be  traced  in  the  same  catch-phrases 
throughout.  It  is  apparent  to  the  initiated  that  ignorance  and  as- 
sumption have  joined  together  to  produce  the  worst  possible  kind 
of  character-killing  by  the  clumsiest  possible  kind  of  weapons. 
And  yet  is  it  not  an  additional  indignity  to  be  assailed  in  such  sort 
by  men  whose  own  reputations  have  stood  at  zero,  and  whose  first 
success  in  life  was  attained  by  obliging  others,  in  self-defence,  to 


CG  THE   COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 

support  them  ?  We  may  forget  that  the  assailers  of  Seligman  and 
Jesup  are  the  eulogists  of  all  the  most  disastrous  failures  of  the 
last  five  years  down  to  Yyse  &  Co.,  Duncan,  Sherman  &  Co.,  Allen, 
Stephens  &  Co.,  Henry  Clews  &  Co.,  Howes  &  Macy,  Jay  Cooke 
&  Co.,  and  innumerable  others  throughout  the*  entire  country ; 
but  how  can  we  become  reconciled  to  having  persons  dispense 
reputation  to  our  great  and  reputable  Merchants  when  one  of  them 
waited  ten  years  to  announce  to  the  writer  that  he  performed  a 
wise  and  honest  act  by  not  absconding  once  with  a  sum  of  gold 
entrusted  td  him  by  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Toronto  ?  The  ancient 
Thersites  was  a  low-minded  and  vulgar-faced  ruffian.  He  had 
human  characteristics  and  at  least  one  qualification — excellence  in 
blackguardism.  But  to  be  trampled  in  the  dirt  by  a  set  of  Satyrs 
whose  lower  passions  might  be  typified  by  a  Goat's  extremities, 
and  whose  highest  ornament  is  an  Ass's  ears — can  human  patience 
be  asked  to  stand  such  an  extremity  of  ill-fortune  ? 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  67 


CHAPTER  X. 

WHEELS   WITHIN   WHEELS— DOCTORS   DIFFER— AND  WHAT    THEY 
SAY   OF   THEIR-  PATIENTS. 

IF  the  Agencies  appreciate  friends  like  Macfarlan,  Browne, 
Morrice,  Herrick,  et  id  omni  genus,  the  timorous  merchant  who 
visits  them  voluntarily  to  show  his  real  means,  or  try  to  correct 
their  misrepresentation,  must  not  always  expect  justice  or  security 
as  the  complement  of  a  subscription.  The  rule  is  that  subscriptions 
mollify  just  in  proportion  to  the  amount  paid  ;  but  the  volunteer 
needs  also  to  remember  that  all  the  owners  of  the  concerns  have 
not  equal  control  of  the  private  reports.  If,  for  instance,  you  con- 
fess your  business  matters  to  Dun,  of  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  you 
may  look  for  reprovals  from  the  City  Manager — for  this  person 
cannot  suffer  any  one  to  think  lie  does  not  hold  the  key  to  the  in- 
nermost chambers  of  commercial  credit.  The  importance  of  this 
hint  is  readily  made  manifest  by  the  following  facts : 

R.  "W.  Cameron,  of  R.  W.  Cameron  &  Co.,  shipping  and  com- 
mission, carried  his  heart  on  his  sleeve  to  R.  Gr.  Dun,  in  January, 
1872.  He  satisfied  the  senior,  who  knew  him  well,  that  his  re- 
sources were  adequate  for  all  needs,  and  his  right  to  credit,  if  he 
desired  it,  perfect.  The  manager  of  the  New-York  City  depart- 
ment, however,  was  not  consulted,  and  he  accordingly  acted  on 
the  constructive  slight.  Mr.  Cameron  has  now  for  the  first  time 
the  mortification  of  knowing  that,  although  his  capital  was  £60,000 
($240,000),  the  city-department  manager  could  only  find  it  con- 
venient to  place  it  at  $60,000  to  $70,000  while  communicating  with 
Charles  Pratt  &  Co.,  Central  National  Bank,  Bank  of  British 
North-America,  Hanover  National  Bank,  and  others  in  and  out  of 
New-York  City;  and  that,  "although  standing  high  among  his 
"friends,  he  had  conveyed  the  idea  of  unreliability  to  persons  not 


CS  THE    COMMERCIAL   AGEXCIES. 

"  so  intimately  connected  with  him;"  that  is,  like  the  manager,  who 
probably  never  saw  him  in  his  life.  He  soon  learned  "  he  was,  in 
"the  main,  an  enigma,  and  of  doubtful  reliability,  although  cer- 
"  tainly  prompt,  energetic,  and  capable."  The  mistake  of  calling 
on  the  wrong  man  in  this  case  shrunk  £60,000  into  $60,000,  and 
entailed  on  a  merchant  and  firm  of  indubitable  resources  and  the 
highest  commercial  standing,  who  should  never  have  entered  such 
a  place,  an  ill-favored  aroma  still  hanging,  without  any  intentional 
fault  of  his,  around  all  his  enterprises.  In  the  closing  words  of 
the  manager,  "  If  he  should  get  into  trouble  to-morrow  it  would 
"  not  create  a  great  deal  of  surprise,  and  the  universal  remark 
"  would  be,  'I  told  you  so ! ' ':  This  is  what  he  gets  from  praying 
at  the  wrong  shrine,  and  not  recalling  that  a  brass  serpent  was  the 
idol  to  neutralize  the  poisons  of  the  pilgrimage. 

O.  K.  Dorman,  president  of  the  Metropolitan  Collar  Company, 
doing  the  largest  business  in  the  line  in  the  world,  made  the  same 
mistake  as  Cameron^  Dun  and  he  were  acquaintances  of  twenty 
years.  Dun  thought  him  to  be  as  he  knew  him  to  be.  The  city 
manager  did  not  know  him  at  all,  but  he  saw  through  him  in  a 
flash — through  him  and  his  admitted  half  million  capital — and 
gazetted  him  "as  not  the  most  reliable  man  in  the  world."  He 
was  not  indeed  "  unsafe,"  but  "  your  account  with  him  ought  to 
"be  watched" — as  if  every  man's  account  ought  not  to  be  watched, 
only  his.  These  words  of  golden  wisdom  did  the  manager  indite 
and  cause  to  be  communicated  to  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co.,  Wheel- 
wright, Anderson  &  Co.,  Minot,  Hooper  &  Co.,  and  Kibbe,  Chaf- 
fie,  Shreve  &  •  Co.  what  time  K.  Gr.  Dun,  under  the  softening 
thoughts  and  pressing  duties  of  a  prospective  day's  recreation 
after  the  manner  of  Isaak  Walton,  committed  his  departing  friend 
to  the  mercies  of  the  guardian  of  the  vestibule.  Dun  may  have 
been  hospitable  for  the  hour ;  but  why,  when  he  left  the  shores  of 
his  ever-flowing  Pactolus  for  Lake  Simcoe,  did  he  forget  to 
whisper  to  Dorman,  Cave  canem — beware  of  the  dog  ! 

Even  the  paths  of  Law  and  Literature  do  not  escape  these  per- 
turbations. A  well-known  legist,  over  whom  the  shadow  of  the 
Tribunes  tall  tower  erstwhile  cast  its  genial  shade,  has  com- 
mitted (in  Agency  opinion)  some  dire  offence  against  the 
stringent  rules  of  morality  and  conduct  favored  by  the  Agency. 
He  had  had  the  fortune,  or  misfortune,  to  be  retained  and  to  plead 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  69 

for  (say)  a  criminal  and  convict.  He  had  had  the  further  fortune, 
or  misfortune,  to  be  counsel  (say)  for  an  impeached  judge.  Both 
acts  were  in  the  due  exercise  of  his  profession  ;  were,  indeed, 
duties  in  a  professional  sense ;  but  their  due  performance  did  not 
exalt  him  in  Agency  eyes ;  relegated  him  to  doubtful  company, 
and  drew  down  on  his  unconscious  head  these  potent  dicta  :  "He 
"  is  not  very  popular  with  some  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
"  bar  ;"  is  only  "  in  some  quarters  regarded  responsible  for  legiti- 
"  mate  business  wants;  is  suspected  of  having  no  property  in  his 
"  own  name ;  is  dabbling  in  outside  operations,  and  cannot  be  re- 
"  commended  to  credit."  It  may  be  of  slight  importance  to  the 
learned  gentleman  what  "  some  leading  members  of  the  bar,"  in 
opposition,  think  of  him ;  less,  how  "  some  quarters"  regard  him  ; 
none,  what  the  Agency  recommends  or  omits  to  recommend  in  his 
behalf ;  for  his  credit  is  unimpeachable.  But  we  should  really  like 
to  know  whether  he  lost  the  chance  of  a  lawn-cutter,  a  plough,  or 
a  client  in  consequence  of  the  inquiry  of  Vanderbilt  Brothers,  or 
the  ignorance,  malevolence,  or  political  or  personal  prejudices  of 
thia  Agency  representative. 

A  well-known  lawyer,  residing  near  Rye,  with  an  office  in  Liber- 
ty street,  and  estimated  worth  from  $500,000  to  $1,000,000,  the 
owner  of  dozens  of  houses  and  the  director  of  a  bank,  is  another 
victim.  He  is  denounced  as  a  "  sharp,  shrewd  man,  who  will  get 
"the  best  of  a  bargain,  and  rather  unscrupulous.  Transactions 
"  with  him  should  also  be  clearly  defined,  and  in  '  black  and 
"  white.'  "  The  iteration  of  the  same  phrases  palls  on  the  ear  and 
indicates  the  poverty  of  language  which  may  consort  with  sly 
malice  and  devious  detraction.  What  Mr.  C.  did  to  merit  these 
opinions,  complimentary  to  his  legal,  at  the  expense  of  his  moral, 
character,  we  know  not ;  but  we  would  wager  a  ducat  that  their 
utterer  merely  spoke  from  his  own  inner  consciousness  to  Cleve- 
land and  St.  Louis  inquirers,  and  wholly  without  a  tittle  of  personal 
experience  or  other  justification. 

Passing  from  the  legal  fraternity,  who  are  naturally  measured 
by  the  Agency's  standard  of  professional  ability  and  integrity — 
itself  indicated  by  their  selection  of  one  Whelp  to  superintend 
their  collections  and  bark,  in  return,  at  the  citizens  of  Staten  Island 
— we  come  to  the  treatment  of  literary  men  and  literary  ventures. 
In  this  category  of  Agency  effort,  the  jealous  nature  of  ignorance 


70  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

and  also  the  cautiousness  of  cowardice  assert  themselves.  Where 
there  is  great  risk  of  discovery,  the  Agencies  either  omit  to 
rate  newspapers  as  such,  or  rate  them  highly.  This  is  a  rule  of 
the  trade.  But  where  the  chance  of  discovery  is  lessened,  and  the 
publishers  or  editors  come  to  be  treated  of  in  the  private  reports, 
•  they  fare  worse  than  others,  in  proportion.  It  seems  as  if  the 
acrimony  withheld  for  prudential  reasons  were  poured  out  with 
greater  unction  because  of  the  compelled  restraint  in  regard  to 
journalism  proper. 

Our  first  example  under  this  head  will  be  the  treatment  of  a 
Dey  street  company  of  publishers.  Their  papers  are  declared  to 
be  valuable  property,  and  rated  very  highly  ;  but  between  the 
months  of  February  and  November,  1874,  a  remarkable  change 
must  have  come  over  the  men  engaged  in  the  publications.  In 
February  they  were  "  smart  fellows  " — a  favorite  term  .with 
the  familiar  bumpkins  of  the  agencies — and,  "  on  the  whole,  sat- 
isfactory." In  November  the  same  gentlemen  are  persons 
"  in  wrhom  little'  confidence  is  felt ;"  who  "  will  take  care  of  their 
"  own  interests,  at  all  risks"  and  who  "  are  managing  the 
—  much  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  proprietors,"  although 
"  paying  promptly  and  making  money."  It  is  not  for  us  to  re- 
concile these  sudden  contradictions  of  feeling  and  circumstances. 
But  it  is  fair  to  ask  how  the  same  gentlemen,  "  satisfactory"  in 
February  and  "  making  money"  up  to  November,  came,  in  No- 
vember, to  be  without  public  confidence  and  possessed  of  go  little 
moral  sense  as  to  "  take  care  of  themselves,  at  all  risks"  ?  And  it 
is  also  fair  to  ask  whether  or  not  these  gentlemen,  and  men  like 
these,  connected  with  the  honorable  profession  of  journalism,  are 
pleased  to  find  the  boobies  of  the  agencies  presuming  to  say  what  is 
and  what  is  not  "  good  management "  of  one  or  more  leading  news- 
papers ?  We  do  riot  know  what  effect  the  wise-saws  of  the 
Agency  may  have  had  on  H.  C.  Hulbert  &  Co.,  F.  G.  Green  & 
Co.,  J.  F.  Anderson,  Jr.,  &  Co.,  Bulkley,  Dunton  &  Co.,  "W.  H. 
Parson  &  Co.,  and  others.  "VYe  do  know  that  the  assailed  gentle- 
men could  graphically  resent  the  impertinence  if  they  saw  fit. 

The  publisher  of  another  daily  newspaper,  and  known  to  pos- 
sess a  great  deal  of  wealth,  variously  estimated  from  $500,000  to 
$1,000,000,  a  member  of  the  Manhattan  Club,  and  a  Director  of 
the  Associated  Press,  is  denounced  in  the  severest  terms  as  a 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  71 

"  slippery,  unreliable  man,  unfitted  for  credit  except  on  the  basis  of 
"  net  cash."  This  is  said  of  a  person  whose  word  of  honor  passes 
current  with  all  who  know  him  for  any  amount  of  money  ;  who 
has  never  contested  a  claim  unless  he  believed  it  fraudulent,  and 
who  is  rated  in  the  Reference  Book  in  "  very  good "  credit ! 
We  learn  his  libellers  are  anxious  to  retract  their  aspersions  now 
that  their  secret  defamation  is  exposed  ;  but  we  should  think  as 
little  of  the  person  who  would  be  satisfied  with  such  a  requital  f  or 
so  grievous  a  wrong  as  we  do  of  his  traducers. 

The  family  circle  is  no  safer  from  attack  than  the  Bar  or  the 

Press.  Thus  we  learn  of  one  H that  "  he  takes  too  much 

"  wine,  and  is  possessed  of  an  extravagant  wife  and  fast  horses." 

Of  another  "  II ,"  that  "  he  has  recently  been  made  110- 

"  torious  by  his  love  for  the  drama  ;  by  being  sued  for  divorce 
u  l)ij  a  notorious  so-called  vocalist  of  the  Variety,  and  by  it  being 
"  alleged  that  this  is  the  last  of  three  marriages,  and  that  his  first 
"  wife  is  still  living  in  Brooklyn"  The  second  "H."  is  conceded 
to  be  in  "  excellent  credit,"  but  the  opportunity  of  recording  these 
useless  details  in  a  record  could  not  be  missed.  Of  another  gen- 
tleman it  is  told  that  "  he  is  doing  a  large  business  and  thought  to 
"  be  making  money,  but  is  involved  in  a  suit  with  the  widow  of 
"  a  man  he  is  said  to  have  killed  in  a  melee"  Of  another,  who 
"  is  worth  from  $200,000  to  $250,000,"  it  is  carefully  related  that 
lie  is  "  amply  safe  and  responsible  for  all  contracts,  but  was  at  one 
"  time  an  inmate  of  the  Binghamton  Inebriate  Asylum."  An- 
other will  be  surprised  to  learn  that  his  daughters,  living  in  his 
house  since  their  birth,  "  left  him  on  account  of  a  second  marriage." 

Indifferent  to  the  reserve  of  home,  the  agencies  are  also  indiffer- 
ent to  the  sanctities  of  conscience,  and  betray  the  bigoted  prepos- 
sessions, of  every  temporary  manager,  in  the  record.  Charles  H. 
Applegate,  doing  business  in  Dry  Goods  at  330  Broadway  in  1874, 
and  associated  as  partner  with  a  house  reputed  to  be  worth  $200,000, 
is  made  the  scape-goat  of  a  narrow  religious  prejudice.  He  is  de- 
nounced as  "  an  ardent  Methodist,  erratic,  difficult  to  place,  easily 
"  persuaded,  sharp  and  tricky."  As  if  "  ardent  Methodists"  lost  a 
certain  amount  of  business  qualification  in  proportion  to  their  ar- 
dor of  religious  belief  and  their  eagerness  in  practising  it  ! 

The  editor  of  the  "  Quebec  Saturday  Budget,"  quoted  in  the 
Montreal  Sun  of  September  14th,  1875,  is  our  authority  for  an- 


72  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

other  instance  of  offensive  bigotry.  Writing  of  the  agencies  under 
a,  recent  date,  he  says  :  "  We  well  remember  an  occasion  when,  in 
"  reply  to  an  inquiry  concerning  a  certain  house  in  Quebec,  one 
"  of  the  agencies  flashed  back  the  reply  by  telegraph,  '  They  are 
"jRoman  Catholics;  do  not  give  them  any  .credit?  "  The  descent 
from  bigotry  to  dirt  is  natural  and  inevitable.  On  the  record  of 
one  of  the  agencies  in  Albany,  and  New- York,  is  this  entry  in  re- 
ference to  Potsdam  Junction,  St.  Lawrence  County,  New- York : 

"  Miss  L.  E.  K k.  Is  an  orphan,  twenty  years  old,  comely, 

"  residing  with  the  widow  A y,  who  is  a  woman  of  wealth 

"  and  has  no  children  of  her  own."  And  of  another  lady  in  New- 
Jersey  it  is  said  "  she  has  a  neat  millinery  store,  with  a  cozy  room 
"  in  the  rear,  and  an  inviting  lounge." 

Two  others — partners — will  find  something  more  surprising 
still  in  these  ruffianly  reports,  namely :  "  that  each  enjoyed  the 
•"  companionship  of  the  other  wife's  with  her  husband '«  consent." 

We  stop  here.  If  the  reader  has  any  patience  left  after 
perusing  these  examples  of  agency  literature,  we  must  ask  him  to 
exercise  it  over  a  few  questions  which  we  submit  to  him  in  per- 
fect sincerity. 

I.  Are  men  moved  by  the  impulses   displayed   in   the   fore- 
going examples  fit  to   be  associated  with  on  terms  of  equality, 
or  any  terms,  by  self-respecting  citizens  ? 

II.  Are  men  who  live  by  the  sale    of   the  false — where  not 
puerile ;   scandalous,  where   not   inane ;   malicious  where  not  in- 
consequent— reports,  hints,  surmises,  guesses,  criticisms,  and  down- 
right blackguardisms  detailed  in  this  chapter,  fit  to  be  recognized 
as  public  benefactors  ? 

We  select  for  our  illustrations  of  the  influence  of  personal 
bias,  etc.,  on  Agency  Reports  these  sample  facts  of  a  great 
number  germane  to  New- York  City,  because  the  principal  office 
cannot  elude  responsibility  for  them  or  pretend  that  it  is  not 
affected  by  the  spleen,  narrow-mindedness,  and  ignorant  preten- 
sions to  which  we  have  referred.  The  effect  of  having  the 
same  fellows  who  play  these  antics  on  citizens  of  assured 
wealth  and  character  in  a  position  to  gratify  like  feelings  on 
gentlemen  of  less  means  and  equal  integrity  can  be  readily 
conceived.  Assuredly  the  knaves  who  receive  men's  money  and 
rate  them  well  openly  only  to  depreciate  and  degrade  them  pri- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  73 

vately  are  not  likely  to  respect  less  wealth  or  greater  sensibility  to 
abuse,  if  a  purpose  may  be  served  or  a  feeling  gratified,  in  disre- 
garding both. 

It  occurs  to  the  writer  that  there  ought  to  be  a  limit  to  public 
forbearance.  The  Courts,  whose  breath  is  publicity  and  whose 
prerogative  is  sovereign  to  correct  and  reprove  things  tending  to 
the  destruction  of  society,  seal  up  from  prying  eyes  the  inevitable 
records  of  human  frailty.  Legislatures  pass  Statutes  of  Limitation 
to  restrain  and  prevent  discussions  of  personal  character  only  cal- 
culated to  foment  strife  and  endanger  social  peace.  Municipal 
governments  set  apart  a  time  for  removing  the  natural  accumula- 
tions which  might  affect  the  health  of  localities  by  being  brought 
in  contact  with  the  air  at  less  propitious  hours  for  human  rest. 
The  Agencies  alone,  bound  up  in  their  own  selfish  objects,  and  in- 
capable, from  their  very  constitution  as  depots  of  ignorance  and  ra- 
pacity, of  respecting  any  tie  however  sacred,  any  reserve  how- 
ever urgent,  any  misfortune  however  retrieved,  set  no  bounds  to 
the  accumulation  of  matter  obnoxious  in  itself,  and  display  their 
indifference  to  honor,  and  the  comities  of  Society,  by  giving  it  a 
permanent  hospitality  and  a  perpetual  circulation. 


7-1  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE    WEEKLY    CHANGE    SHEETS— THEIR    INCOMPLETENESS— 
THEIR    AGE. 

BESIDE  the  yearly,  half-yearly,  and  quarterly  Reference  Books, 
the  three  Agencies  indulge  their  subscribers  with  "  Notification 
Sheets."  These  are  supposed  to  be  a  true  exhibit  of  the  changes 
happening  within  the  period  mentioned  to  over  800,000  persons. 
The  average  number  of  names  on  these  Sheets  is  not  over  three 
hundred.  Whatever  the  Branch  Offices  can  pick  up  they  report  to 
the  Principal  Offices,  and  the  Principal  Offices  print  and  distribute 
weekly  or  monthly,  as  their  custom  may  be.  The  first  objection 
to  these  Sheets  is  apparent.  Among  800,000  persons  the  fluctua- 
tions of  business,  of  a  decisive  kind,  must  number  thousands  week- 
ly. Let  any  single  Merchant  in  any  town  in  this  Country  or  in 
Canada  recall  the  changes  in  business  men's  affairs  within  his 
own  knowledge  during  a  single  week,  and  he  will  immediately 
discover  how  incomplete  and  inadequate  the  few  hundred  in- 
stances given  in  the  Sheets  must  be  to  represent  the  changes  by 
Death,  Dissolutions  of  Firms,  Insolvency,  Judgments,  Fire,  and 
the  thousand  and  one  casualties  incident  to  the  business  life  of 
45,000,000  of  population.  There  is  not  a  State  in  the  Union,  or 
a  Province  in  the  Dominion,  which  would  not  supply  a  larger 
roll;  and  single  counties  in  the  mercantile  portions  of  either 
country,  would,  if  adequately  reported,  require  a  much  greater 
exhibit. 

The  second  defect  of  these  Sheets  is  that  they  are  old  when 
printed  and  older  when  received,  as  well  as  incomplete.  The 
Post-office  is  the  means  of  first  communication  with  the  Branch 
Offices  ;  these  offices  transmit  news  also,  by  Post,  once  a  week :  the 
Principal  Offices  make  up  the  Sheets  from  this  slowly  gathered 
matter,  print  it  during  two  days,  and,  instead  of  mailing  directly 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  75 

to  subscribers,  return  the  Sheets  in  packages  to  the  Branch  Offices 
for  final  distribution  by  mail. 

In  this  manner  the  weekly  list,  when  received,  generally  con- 
veys information  three  weeks  old. 

]STow,  it  is  the  common  experience  of  business  men  that  the 
period  most  dangerous  to  honest  traders  is  always  the  period  just 
previous  to  unexpected  changes,  or  within  a  short  time  after  they 
have  happened,  and  in  advance  of  their  becoming  notorious.  If 
the  Agencies  meant  to  serve  their  subscribers  in  any  way,  the 
greatest  expedition  would  be  shown  in  this  critical  time.  If  they 
could  not  aid  them  by  approximating  correct  ratings,  they  might, 
at  least,  make  an  effort  is  promptly  announce  such  open  secrets  as 
Failures,  Suspensions,  Receiverships  and  Fires.  They  know 
better  than  to  attempt  it.  However  the  defects  and  incomplete- 
ness of  their  arrangements  may  be  to  subscribers,  they  are  fully 
appreciated  by  the  Agencies.  Festina  lente  is  a  meaningful 
motto  to  them.  It  is  safer  and  better  for  them  that  the  subscribers 
should  wait  and  suffer,  in  their  pockets  and  goods,  than  that  the 
Agencies  should  be  put  to  the  additional  cost  and  responsibility  of 
telegraphing  changes,  etc.,  by  means  of  the  Associated  Press,  or 
report  a  financial  death  until  it  had  stunk  beyond  providential 
resuscitation.  This  niggardliness  and  self -convicting  caution  dis- 
tinguish all  they  do  and  determine  all  they  decline  and  neglect  to 
do.  The  use  of  the  telegraph  to  and  from  their  Branch  Offices 
would  cost  from  $20,000  to  $30,000  yearly,  perhaps  more ;  but  if 
it  saved  ten  subscribers  out  of  30,000,  during  the  whole  time, 
from  loss  arising  from  want  of  information,  it  would  be  a  partial, 
however  inadequate,  requital  for  the  $8,000,000  extracted  yearly 
from  the  business  capital  of  the  country.  Even  this  slight  chance 
of  recompense  is  disregarded.  The  coercive  features  of  the  insti- 
tution are  relied  on  to  make  up  for  every  shortcoming  or  omission. 

The  Agencies  know  they  may  snore  if  they  choose,  on  the 
principle  that  Apollo  semper  arcum  tendit,  and  a  man  capable  of 
communicating  contagious  disease  may  thank  no  one  for  showing 
him  a  Hospital.  A  small-pox  patient  finds  plenty  of  room  and 
encounters  little  controversy  in  any  community. 

Let  us,  however,  suppose  the  Change  Sheet  received  in  due 
course.  Consignments  have  had  plenty  of  time  to  reach  the 
buyer's  hands,  or  his  Receivers,  or  his  Assignees.  Pro  rata  distri- 


76  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

bution,  instead  of  recovery  of  the  goods  or  payment  in  full,  is  the 
first  consequence.  The  second  is :  entailed  costs  for  Attorneys,  and, 
in  case  of  collection  being  made  through  the  Agencies,  profit  from 
the  very  loss  which  their  negligence  of  subscribers'  interests  had 
already  entailed  or  aggravated. 

If  the  Change  Sheets  arrive  pending  a  negotiation  instead  of 
after  an  executed  contract,  the  absence  of  a  credit  applicant's  name 
is  a  deceiving  assurance ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  if  the  name  ap- 
pear in  connection  with  an  honorable  change  or  a  suspension, 
nothing  is  said  to  show  whether  the  change  is  for  the  better  or 
the  suspension  likely  to  be  short,  protracted,  or  distinguished  by 
circumstances  justifying  forbearance  rather  than  pressure.  It  is 
of  common  occurrence  to  find  Firms  that  had  resumed  within  a 
week  after  suspension  dropped  out  of  the  Change  Sheets  entirely, 
and  thus  excluded  from  the  community  of  active  traders  to  which 
many  Merchants  and  Manufacturers  look  for  desirable  customers. 
But  if  the  resumption  be  announced,  it  comes  months  after  the 
time  of  happening  ;  and  the  resuscitated  firm  has  had  a  chance  to 
secure  new  associations  before  the  old  ones  could  wisely  take  ad- 
vantage of  their  longer  acquaintance  and  former  relations. 

Of  the  Notification  Sheets  of  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.,  J.  M. 
Bradstreet  &  Son,  and  Dun,  Barlow  &,  Co.  the  general  charge 
holds  good : — that  they  are  made  up  from  the  same  sources  as  the 
Reference  Books  ;  are  slow  to  come,  and  useless  or  confusing  when 
they  do  come.  In  a  country  of  quick  transportation,  a  device 
which  gives  contemplated  or  accomplished  fraud  even  a  week's 
start  is  necessarily  valueless  except  as  a  test  of  patience ;  and 
after-the-fact  knowledge  becomes  likewise  a  work  of  supereroga- 
tion, in  the  instance  of  honorable  business  misfortune ;  for  who 
ever  heard  of  an  honest  man  attempting  to  incur  obligations  when 
in  a  state  of  flagrant  failure  without  apprising  the  credit-giver 
of  his  condition  ?  They  are,  therefore,  too  tardy  to  prevent  losses  ; 
too  meagre  not  to  deceive  the  trusting  ;  and,  although  the 
most  pretentious  sign  of  activity  and  alertness  of  the  Agencies, 
are  of  a  piece  with  the  decoy  of  the  Prize  Package  and  the 
trick  of  the  Sawdust  swindle. 

As  the  yearly,  half-yearly,  and  quarterly  Reference  Books 
are  the  standing  capital  and  menace  of  the  Agencies,  they 
are  made  to  do  double  duty — extort  the  yearly  subscription 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  77 

principally,  and  extract  a  biennial  tax  of  $10  besides  from 
subscribers.  One  would  think  the  yearly  charge  monstrous 
enough  for  the  mass  of  trash  supplied;  but  this  supplemen- 
tary piece  of  highwayism  partakes  more  of  the  condign  neces- 
sities of  the  footsore  and  barefaced  "  Secesh "  who  peeled  his 
victim  to  the  buff  than  the  genteel  Turpinism  which  should 
characterize  already  well-mounted  and  well-appointed  foot- 
pads,— which  the  Agencies  are  not.  "Tis  the  old  story  over 
again.  The  business  public  did  not  resist  beginnings.  They 
might  have  singly  and  cheaply  overcome  the  first  assault.  They 
have  paid  fifty  or  sixty  millions  for  their  remissness,  and  must 
now  essay,  with  greater  labor,  to  render  unprofitable  the  very 
capital  supplied  by  themselves,  and  used  to  harass  the  weak  and 
levy  tribute  from  the  irresolute. 

The  half-yearly  and  quarterly  volumes  are  merely  the  yearly 
matter  with  the  Notification  Sheet  alterations.  As  subscribers  re- 
ceive the  yearly  volume  for  the  subscription-price,  and  the  little 
Sheets  to  modify  a  few  of  its  many  discovered  inaccuracies,  they 
have  the  very  matter  in  their  possession  for  which  they  are  re- 
quired to  pay  the  additional  $10.  This  is  a  very  considerable  item 
for  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  and  in  a  lesser,  but  also  proportionably 
profitable,  degree  to  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  and  J.  M.  Bradstreet 
&  Son. 

The  cost  of  these  absolutely-needless  books  is  merely  the  paper 
and  printing,  about  $2.50  or  $3.00  per  volume.  The  difference  is 
clear  profit.  But  the  dodge  produces  a  further  advantage.  It 
makes  the  subscribers  pay  for  the  yearly  Books  :  the  profit  of  sales 
supplies  enough  to  pay  salaries,  rents,  and  contingencies.  The 
system  of  calling  in  the  old  volumes  serves  a  treble  purpose.  It 
contributes  to  prevent  Merchants  from  discovering  the  extent  of 
obsolete  or  identical  matter,  by  comparison  ;  destroys  the  primary 
evidence  of  information  which  may  have  induced  losses,  or  might 
furnish  ground  for  libels,  and  enables  the  Agencies  to  recover  all 
the  paper  and  binding  material  of  every  edition  to  work  up  again 
into  a  next  issue  or  sell  to  the  paper  manufacturer.  A  calculation 
will  indicate  the  exquisite  adaptation  of  means  to  ends  in  all  this 
arrangement.  It  will  show  the  absurdity  of  the  popular  impres- 
sion that  Jack  cannot  eat  his  cake  and  have  it  too.  The 
Agencies  prove  the  contrary.  They  can  eat  their  cake  a  dozen 


78  THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

times ;  be  paid  for  the  successive  exertion ;  and  only  lose  a  few 
crumbs  in  the  whole  series  of  operations  in  the  interests  of  Trade ! 
The  yearly  subscriptions  are,  therefore,  either  wholly  or  nearly 
wholly,  clear  profit ;  so  that,  which  ever  way  we  turn,  we  find 
every  appliance  disadvantageous  to  the  subscriber  and  of  profit 
to  the  publishers. 

As  to  the  yearly  volumes  themselves,  they  can  only  contain, 
additional  to  the  half-yearly  or  quarterly  ones,  as  the  case  may 
be,  the  substance  of  the  Change  Sheets  issued  within  the  time  of 
the  publication  of  the  last  quarterly,  and  previous  to  the  opening 
of  the  yearly,  term.  If  no  changes  be  reported,  none,  of  course, 
are  entered ;  if  they  are  reported,  they  make  a  very  inconsiderable 
addition  to  the  last  volume's  ;  and,  in  all  events,  apart  from  these 
alterations,  the  old  ratings  of  capital  and  credit  are  sold  over  again, 
year  after  year,  with  commendable  persistence  and  constantly  ac- 
cumulating profits.  The  merchant  who  has  not  failed,  and  who 
has  been  quadrupling  his  means  within  three  or  four  years,  sees  his 
old  rating  occupy  the  same  place  with  the  proverbial  persistence 
of  error.  The  merchant  who  has  failed  will,  in  ninety  cases  out 
of  a  hundred,  either  find  himself  paraded  in  all  his  pristine  credit 
or  overlooked,  as  is  natural  where  only  about  jive  per  cent  of  the 
business  population  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  is  noticed  in 
any  m  aimer.  Administrators  and  Executors  who  have  passed 
their  accounts  and  been  discharged,  find  their  long-buried  testator 
in  active  life  and  high  credit.  The  members  of  long-since  dissolv- 
ed partnerships  discover  themselves  still  allied  in  effort  and  respon- 
sibility. Once  in  every  two  or  three  years  a  crusade  for  new  sub- 
scribers is  entered  on,  from  the  district  offices,  into  the  towns  which 
appear  to  justify  the  effort,  and  these  itinerancies  have  the  effect 
of  burying  some  of  the  notoriously  dead,  and  bringing  into  agency 
life  and  meshes  some  new,  traders  ;  but  as  the  solicited  merchant 
who  refuses  to  subscribe  is  sure  to  be  remembered  as  a  penalty  to 
himself,  an  inducement  to  reformation,  or  a  terror  to  others,  the 
amount  of  consequential  misrepresentation  added  is  generally  in 
startling  excess  of  the  correction  made. 

Between  the  necessity  and  policy  of  lying  in.  favor  of  sub- 
scribers and  the  necessity  and  policy  of  lying  against  non-subscri- 
bers, Truth,  it  might  be  thought,  is  crucified  with  all  the  concomi- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  79 

tants  of  gall  and  wormwood,  while  Barabbas  is  let  loose,  with  loud 
acclaim,  to  rob  and  plunder. 

If  the  agencies  were  even  conceded  to  preserve,  in  a  tempting 
employment,  even  the  average  morality  of  the  day,  why,  it  may 
be  stated,  should  we  expect  them  to  properly  perform  a  function 
more  delicate  than  legislation;  more  remunerative  by  its  abuse 
than  lottery  schemes ;  more  involved  and  far-extending  in  purpose 
than  any  single  enterprise  of  the  time,  excepting  the  United  States 
Revenue  Service ;  when  we  have  just  seen  a  national  Legislature 
given  over  to  the  infernal  gods  by  the  rapacity  of  its  most  trusted 
members,  and  a  carnival  of  greed  for  dishonest  gain  sweep  into  its 
vortex  Cabinet  Officers,  Ministers  Plenipotentiary,  and  thousands 
of  the  most  revered  characters  in  and  out  of  places  of  official 
trust  in  the  country  ?  What  right  have  we  to  imagine  illiterate 
boys,  working  on  a  salary  of  $10  a  week,  more  upright  than 
Colfax,  or  managers,  earning  one  thousand,  and  living  at  the  rate 
of  six,  more  self-denying  than  Tweed  ?  '"We  do  not.  But  this  is 
merely  their  apology  for  being  as  they  are.  It  is  no  excuse  or 
justification  for  their  existence,  as  such. 

The  agencies  are  certainly  not  officered  or  controlled  by  men 
of  exceptional  mortification.  Their  staff  is  a  promiscuous  gather- 
ing that  can  have  no  other  purpose  in  such  a  line  of  life  than  to 
make  money  quickly  and  retire.  As  with-  all  enterprises  attracting 
public  odium,  appeals  to  self-interest  must  preserve  a  constant 
excess  of  persuading  force  over  deterrent  or  disgusting  features. 
There  must  be  compensation  for  shame  suffered  as  well  as  labor 
done.  The  demeaning  performance  over,  the  petty  assistant  may  be 
expected  to  count  his  petty  knock-downs  in  rear  of  the  establish- 
ment, while  the  higher  priced  and  placed  manager  or  confederate 
may  be  presumed  to  openly  pass  through  the  front  door,  to  a  luxu- 
rious retirement,  with  just  such  a  portion  of  the  goods  of  the  con- 
cern as  a  feeling  of  perfect  immunity  from  legal  reprisal  on  the 
part  of  associates,  or  his  own  opportunities,  may  have  defined  for 
him.  The  reason  is  natural.  Hangmen  have  always  had,  as  of 
right,  something  for  the  executions,  over  and  above  the  fees.  The 
rope,  or  a  part  of  it,  is  one.  Other  analogies  will  suggest  them- 
selves. 


80  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER '  XII. 


TAMPERING  WITH   THE  LEGISLATURES  OF  CERTAIN  STATES  AND 
THE  PARLIAMENT  OP   THE   DOMINION  OF  CANADA— MORE 
SECRET  CIRCULARS— FACTS  AND  METHODS. 

CONSCIOUS  wrong-doers  fear  the  law.  Are  the  Agencies  an 
exception?  Ever  since  their  introduction  they  have  been  haunted 
by  the  fear  of  Legislative  interference.  As  they  progressed  in 
wealth  and  increased  in  age,  fear  gave  way  to  attempts  at  precau- 
tion against  it ;  and  a  large  part  of  their  energy  and  no  insignificant 
proportion  of  their  profits  are  now  devoted  yearly  to  anticipat- 
ing hostile  movements  set  afoot  by  their  victims,  or  suppressing 
the  honest  efforts  of  enlightened  and  thoughtful  law-makers  to 
abolish  or  restrain  their  abuses.  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  make,  no 
mention  in  their  Secret  Circular,  which  follows,  of  the  first  inte- 
resting episode  had  with  the  Canadian  Parliament.  They  wholly 
overlook  their  experience  at  the  Dominion  Capital  in  1873.  A 
merchant  of  St.  John,  New-Brunswick,  conceived  himself  grossly 
aggrieved,  and  induced  the  local  member  to  propose  a  General  Act 
of  Parliament.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  take  testimony. 
Middlemiss,  of  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  (and  then  representing 
that  firm  in  Montreal),  was  summoned  before  it  and  examined.  An 
agent  went  in  hot  haste  from  New- York  to  appear  for  Dun,  Bar- 
low &  Co.  and  give  his  notions.  Feeling  ran  high — high  enough 
to  induce  the  rival  Agencies  to  confer  together  against  the  common 
enemy.  They  conferred  to  advantage.  The  Agencies  were 
something  poorer  for  a  period ;  the  Act  was  not  urged ;  several 
ambitious  members  were  flush  for  a  month  or  two  ;  and  the  people 
of  the  Dominion  found  themselves  temporarily  turned  over  to  the 
Agencies  for  further  phlebotomy.  The  connection  of  McKillop 
&  Sprague  Co.'s  representative  with  the  Canadian  Credit  Mobilier 
business,  known  as  the  "  Canadian  Land  Swap,"  and  the  subsequent 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  81 

judicious  investments  of  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  at  Harrisburg,  render 
it  unnecessary  to  assure  the  reader  that  both  institutions  used  only 
honorable  arguments,  and  persuaded  one  or  more  Canadian  Legis- 
lative Committees  solely  by  the  innate  force  of  truth  and  the  ex- 
ample of  uprightness. 

The  second  instance  of  Legislative  interference  with  the  nefa- 
rious business  was  that  originated  by  some  excellent  gentlemen  in 
the  Lower  House  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature.  The  statesmen 
of  that  Commonwealth,  brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel,  in  all 
that  pertains  to  popular  rights,  and  fully  appreciating  the  sacred 
rights  of  persons  and  character,  early  noticed  the  inroads  of  the 
new  claims  on  the  old-time  reserves  of  business  and  society.  They 
felt,  too,  that  if  privileges  so  general  were  asserted  in  the  name  of 
Eight,  they  should  be  met  at  the  "threshold,  and  denied  admittance 
in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth,  without  conditions  calculated 
to  insure  safety  to  Merchants  and  traders  in  purse  and  character. 
This  course  was  worthy  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  especially 
honorable  to  the  legal  profession,  which  has  so  long  made  its 
Councils  a  bulwark  against  individual  wrongs  and  lax  constitution- 
al interpretation.  The  home  of  a  Sharswood,  a  Black,  or  a  Gur- 
ney  was  naturally  the  first  in  the  Union  to  challenge  the  bold  pre- 
tensions of  the  Agencies;  and  the  ease  with  which  the  following 
Act  passed  an  Assembly,  largely  composed  of  lawyers  reared  in 
the  same  school  of  jurisprudence,  showed  that  there  were  not 
wanting  many  men  who  appreciated  the  danger  and  sought  to 
avert  it. 

"AN  ACT 

"  To  punish  commercial  agents  for  false  representations  of  the  business  condition 
"of  certain  persons 

"  WHEREAS  There  are  persons  travelling  from  time  to  time  in  different  parts  of  the 
"  Commonwealth  claiming  to  be  conducting  or  representing  commercial  agencies  to 
"  ascertain  keep  a  record  and  publish  the  financial  responsibility  of  business  men  in 
"  different  parts  of  the  country 

"  AND  WHEREAS  Such  persons  from  malicious  or  corrupt  motives  often  wilfully  and 
"  knowing  exaggerate  and  misrepresent  the  financial  condition  of  persons  engaged  in 
"different  kinds  of  business  to  the  great  injury  of  such  persons  and  the  general  public 

"  Therefore 

"SECTION  1  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Common- 
"  -wealth  of  Pennsylvania  in  General  Assembly  met  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority 
"  of  the  same 

"  That  any  person  conducting  the  business  of  what  is  known  as  a  commercial  agency 
"  established  in  this  commonwealth  or  elsewhere  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  pub- 


82  THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

"  lishing  and  keeping  for  public  or  private  information  a  record  of  the  financial  re- 
"  sponsibility  and  business  condition  of  bankers  merchants  traders  builders  manu- 
facturers or  other  persons  engaged  in  any  commercial  business  and  any  person 
"  claiming  to  be  the  representative  of  such  commercial  agency  who  shall  knowingly 
"  heedlessly  or  wilfully  exaggerate  or  misrepresent  by  writing  printing  or  otherwise  in 
"book  form  or  otherwise  the  credit  financial  responsibility  or  business  condition  of 
"  any  banker  merchant  manufacturer  tradesman  builder  or  other  person  or  persons  en- 
"  gaged  in  any  commercial  business  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  and  upon  con- 
"  viction  thereof  shall  be  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty 
"  dollars  nor  more  than  one  thousand  dollars  one  half  of  the  fine  imposed  to  be  for  the 
"  use  of  the  informer  A  conviction  for  the  foregoing  offence  shall  not  bar  au  action 
"  for  damages  by  the  person  or  persons  injured." 

l$o  sooner  liad  this  Bill  passed  the  Lower  House  than  the 
Agencies  discovered  it  and  took  alarm.  They  counselled  together 
how  to  avoid  the  threatened  restraints  on  unlicensed  libel  and  irre- 
sponsible slander.  One  of  their  modes  was  the  writing  and  pri- 
vate circulation,  throughout  the  State,  of  the  following  confiden- 
tial letter,  copied  from  the  original  in  the  writer's  possession,  re- 
ceived from  a  merchant  too  honorable  to  act  on  it : 

"THE  MERCANTILE  AGENCY. 

". ,1874. 


"Dear  Sir: 

"  On  the  next  page  you  will  please  find  an  Act  that  has  been  introduced  into  the  Le- 
gislature of  Pennsylvania,  and  which,  with  the  very  slightest  consideration,  has  actually 
"  passed  the  House  of  Representatives.  There  is  a  good  prospect,  however,  of  stopping 
"  its  passage  in  the  Senate,  and  we  beg,  therefore,  to  ask  your  good  services  to  that  end. 
"If  you  can  assist  its  opposition  by  letter,  or  otherwise,  to  the  Representative  of  your 
"  District  in  the  Senate,  we  beg  that  you  will  do  so  at  once.  As  you  will  see,  the  Act  is 
"very  loosely  drawn,  and  contains  a  false  declaration  at  the  start,  that  information  is 
"  '  often '  wilfully  erroneous,  and  moreover  offers  a  bribe  to  unprincipled  informers  to 
"  annoy  respectable  persons  for  the  hope  of  reward.  The  laws  of  the  land  are  already 
"  adequate  to  protect  the  public,  and  the  penalties  now  in  existence  for  slander  and  libel 
"  are  heavier  than  even  this  Bill  proposes.  It  is  therefore  uncalled  for.  The  merchants  in 
"  the  various  cities  are  petitioning  against  the  measure,  and  you  will  not  be  singular  in 
"your  opposition  to  it  if  you  will  do  us  the  favor  to  bring  what  influence  you  can  to 
"  bear  in  the  Senate.  Inasmuch  as  action  is  likely  to  be  taken  very  shortly  after  the  7th 
"  April,  prompt  measures  are  necessary.  We  should  like  to  have  a  line  from  you 
"  whether  you  can  help  us  in  the  matter  or  not. 

"  Respectfully  yours, 


The  FIRST  falsehood  in  this  shameful  document  is  self-evident. 
Xo  bill  could  pass  the  House  "  with  the  very  slightest  considera- 
tion." It  was  referred  to  the  Judiciarv  Committee.  It  had 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  83 

received  their  full  consideration,  and  we  know  that  no  law  of  this 
import  could  pass  from  that  committee  back  to  the  House  without 
having  received  the  approval  of  the  best  legal  minds  in  the  State. 
The  SECOND  falsehood  is  meanly  malignant.  The  wiseacres  of  the 
Agency  affect  to  think  the  act  "  loosely  drawn."  To  further  this 
impression  they  print  it  without  punctuation  and  with  verbal  in- 
accuracies, just  as  we  have  produced  it.  Every  one  knows,  who  can 
read  it,  that,  even  with  these  disadvantages,  it  is  an  exceedingly 
clear  and  well-expressed  statute.  The  THIKD  falsehood  is  worse 
than  the  other  two  in  effrontery.  The  public  are  already  better 
protected  by  the  laws  of  slander  and  libel  than  the  bill  proposes  ! 
Why,  as  we  have  shown  elsewhere  in  this  work,  the  Agencies  have 
always  claimed  immunity  from  the  operation  of  these  laws  on  the 
double  ground  that  their  communications  were  privileged  between 
master  and  employee — principal  (merchant)  and  agent  (themselves) 
— and  further,  that  their  interest  in  the  character  of  merchants  and 
traders  was  a  legal  protection  against  either  the  claim  for  private 
damage  or  public  prosecution !  The  FOURTH  falsehood  is  "  that 
merchants  were  petitioning  against "  the  passage  of  the  bill.  There 
was  not  a  word  of  truth  in  this  statement.  The  circular  was  in- 
tended to  induce  them  to  do  so,  and  in  the  hope  that  some  might 
be  got  to  sign  against  the  bill,  on  the  promises  of  special  recogni- 
tion from  the  Agency.  A  few  were  caught  by  this  bait,  after  a 
time ;  but  their  number  and  character  were  so  insignificant  that 
the  names  were  never  presented  in  the  Senate,  and  the  bill  was  de- 
feated by  very  different  methods  and  ones  more  distinctly  within 
the  Agencies'  immediate  control.  A  member  of  one  of  the 
Agencies  went  on  from  New- York  to  Harrisburg,  with  means  fur- 
nished by  the  Agencies,  to  persuade  certain  majorities  of  certain 
committees  of  the  Pennsylvania  Senate  that  the  bill  ought  not  to 
pass.  It  cost  money  to  travel.  It  cost  money  to  live  in  hotels. 
It  was  not  without  large  additional  expenditure,  and  much  intrigue, 
that  this  agent  was  enabled  to  telegraph  that  all  was  right  at  last ! 
The  exact  outlay  will  only  be  known  in  a  court  of  justice ;  but  it 
is  safe  to  say  the  contingent  or  expense  accounts  of  the  Agencies 
show  a  marked  rise  in  these  spring  months  of  1874  to  whoever 
may  secure  access  to  them. 

The  third  interference  with  the  Agencies  occurred  on  the 


£4:  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

banks  of  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri.  In  December,  1874, 
King,  the  St.  Lonis  office  manager,  learned  that  a  bill  was  about  to 
be  introduced  at  Jefferson  City  creating  greater  responsibility,  for 
false  reports  by  Agencies,  to  the  slandered  and  deceived,  and  de- 
fining their  liability  to  parties  injured  by  their  espionage.  These 
restrictions  were  barely  just ;  but  they  would  have  destroyed  the 
institution  in  the  State  within  an  hour  after  their  passage.  The 
fact  was  communicated  to  head-quarters  in  New- York,  and  the 
Agencies  took  alarm  again.  If  this  example  were  to  spread, 
their  career  would  be  brought  to  a  close.  If  it  wei;e  generally 
known  and  canvassed  even,  there  was  danger  that,  although  legis- 
lation might  be  prevented  in  Canada,  Pennsylvania,  and  Missouri, 
some  of  the  other  States  would  legislate  in  the  like  wise  spirit,  and, 
by  making  the  Agencies  responsible  for  their  malice  and  mistakes, 
practically  prohibit  them.  In  this  emergency  a  consultation  was 
had  in  New-York.  As  the  •  result  of  the  conference  a  telegram 
was  agreed  on  and  sent  through  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Co. 
to  King,  instructing  him  to  "spare  neither  money  nor  labor  to  kill 
the  bill."  King  spared  neither.  The  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dol- 
lars, at  least,  was  expended  among  the  Black  Horse  Cavalry  of  the 
St.  Louis  Delegation,  and  a  few  effective  society  men  in  the  coun- 
try districts ;  but  we  are  bound  to  state,  expended  in  a  legal  way : 
what  we  believe  is  another  matter ;  and  the  proposed  bill  dropped 
out  of  sight  after  serving  a  few  evenings  as  a  scarecrow  at  the 
Capitol. 

There  is  still,  however,  in  that  and  other  States,  the  germ  of  an 
active  opposition  which  may  lead  to  efficient  legislation.  Several 
energetic  attorneys  are  badgering  the  Agencies  in  the  courts ;  and 
we  should  not  be  surprised  if  the  spring  and  winter  of  1870  wit- 
nessed a  new  campaign  led  by  honest  men  and  supported  by  the 
leading  presses  of  that  and  other  high-spirited  commonwealths. 

Warned  by  this  troublesome  business  in  Canada,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Missouri,  the  Agencies  conceived  the  idea  of  guarding  against 
future  surprise  and,  if  possible,  cheapening  their  legislative  pro- 
cesses, both.  In  execution  of  this  purpose  the  following  circular, 
dated  January  19th,  1875,  was  printed  and  sent  to  all  branch- 
offices  by  the  Mercantile  Agency.  It  indicates  the  anxiety  of  the 
Agencies  on  this  head  : 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  85 

"  LEGISLATION. 

'  To  MANAGERS  : 

"  We  particularly  wish  to  impress  upon  you  the  necessity  of  constantly  perusing 
the  official  reports  of  your  State  Legislature,  in  order  to  discover  if  any  bills  or  re- 
solutions are  introduced  affecting  the  Agency  business.  We  had  a  great  deal  ofh-oubk: 
last  winter  from  Legislation,  especially  in  one  or  two  cases,  not  having  been  advised 
sufficiently  early  to  combat  it  as  successfully  as  we  could  otherwise  have  done.  The 
moment  you  discover  anything  affecting  our  business  do  not  fail  to  notify  us  at  once, 
and  to  send  us  copies  of  the  documents.  We  presume  the  daily  paper  published  at 
the  State  capital  will  contain  all  that  is  necessary,  and  a  hasty  glance  at  each  day's 
proceeding  will  enable  you  to  keep  track  of  what  we  so  much  desire  to  know. 
"  Yours  truly, 

(signed)    "Dux,  BARLOW  &  Co. 
"  NEW-YORK,  January  19,  1875." 

The  indorsement  by  the  Manager  of  a  Southern  Branch  on 
one  of  these  circulars  is  curt  and  to  the  point.  u  Don't  think  the 
"  Legislature,  composed  as  it  is  of  two  thirds  negroes,  will  ever 
"  think  of  a  '  Mercantile  Agency,'  much  less  pass  laws  affecting  it. 
"  All  they  care  for  is  the  money  /" 

The  trouble  which  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  had  in  "  two  cases," 
during  the  winter  of  1874,  "to  combat  Legislation"  must  refer  to 
their  interference  with  the  members  of  the  Missouri  Legislature 
through  the  exertions  of  their  St.  Louis  manager,  King,  and  the 
equally  important  manipulations  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature 
by  their  Secret  Agents  at  Harrisburg  and  the  various  Senatorial 
Districts  of  that  State.  We  must  suppose  all  done  within  the  Law. 
The  confession  of  these  two  crimes  against  the  public  leaves  many 
others  of  the  same  nature  in  the  background,  but  we  have  pre- 
ferred to  use  their  own  proofs  and  limit  ourselves,  for  the  time 
being,  to  the  offences  which  they  have  admitted. 

Can  that  be  treated  as  a  safe  and  legitimate  business  which 
adopts  the  methods  indicated  in  the  preceding  circulars  to  elude 
legislative  restraints?  Ought  the  public  countenance  or  sustain 
men  who,  by  their  own  confession  and  these  proofs,  might  be 
charged  with  following  the  practice  of  corrupting  the  fountains  of 
Legislation  ? 

Is  there  not  a  public  danger,  apart  altogether  from  the  ques- 
tion of  private  wrongs,  in  the  growth  of  institutions  which  make 
a  boast  of  anticipating  reformatory  measures  by  capturing  the  re- 
presentative bodies,  or  enough  of  them  to  make  the  rest  inefficient 
to  carry  out  the  popular  will  ? 


86  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

Our  Kepresentative  Assemblies  are  bad  enough  already ;  but  it 
is  full  time  to  become  alarmed  for  them  when  these  Agency  en- 
terprises, "  conceived  in  sin  and  brought  forth  in  iniquity,"  are 
emboldened,  by  public  apathy,  to  approach  the  very  sanctuary  of 
the  law-making  power,  and  lay  their  unclean  hands  on  the  minis- 
trants  at  the  Altar  ! 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.       '  87 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SPREADING    THE    PLAGUE— THE    FOREIGN    OFFICES    AND    THEIR 
USES— JONATHAN    THE    ONLY    SUSPECT. 

IT  is  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  time  how  Mercantile  or  Commer- 
cial Agencies  could  establish  themselves  and  prosper  on  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic,  when  public  opinion  would  not  suffer  them  to  be 
planted  in  many  countries,  or  attain  separate  vitality  in  any,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Ocean. 

In  the  British  Islands  they  were  not  permitted  to  organize  a 
List  or  report  Credits  or  Standings ;  and  when,  in  1872,  they  at- 
tempted, in  view  of  the  large  California  trade  with  Australia,  to 
plant  themselves  in  Melbourne,  the  people  of  that  Colony  drove 
them  out  ignominiously.  Notwithstanding  these  effective  exhi- 
bitions of  feeling,  a  weak  system  of  correspondence  was  inaugu- 
rated by  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.,  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son,  and 
Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  in  two  or  three  European  Cities ;  and  those 
firms  were  put  on  their  "  good  behavior"  to  let  all  British  and 
European  Citizens  severely  alone,  and  confine  their  attention  to 
Americans. 

The  Foreign  Offices  of  the  American  Agencies  are,  therefore, 
used,  like  the  Home  ones,  to  operate  on  American  traders  only. 
They  are  not  suffered  to  speak — would  not  be  permitted  to  speak 
— of  the  subjects  and  people  in  sight  of  their  windows,  in  either 
France,  Germany,  or  the  British  Islands.  Brother  Jonathan  is 
their  exclusive  resource  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  fact  is  not  flattering  to  national  pride.  Is  the  American 
Citizen  the  sole  Trader  or  Merchant  who  will  permit  himself  to 
be  tried  at  home  by  these  self -constituted  tribunals  of  character ; 
followed  beyond  sea  by  their  underlings ;  and  harassed  by  their 
impertinences  and  exactions,  everywhere  ?  Either  the  human  race 
requires  this  protection  from  his  dishonesty,  and  he  concedes  the 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

necessity,  or  lie  is  endowed  with  less  self-assertion  and  indepen- 
dence, in  affairs  of  Commerce,  than  John,  Pat,  Sawney  or  Pierre, 
and  is  content  to  have  every  one  intermeddle  with  his  affairs  who 
may  desire  to  make  a  trade  of  doing  so.  However  we  essay  to 
explain  his  forbearance,  foreigners  will  fall  back,  at  last,  on  his  con- 
sciousness of  special  depravity,  or  his  national  bluntness  of  feeling. 

Our  National,  State,  Eailroad,  and  Municipal  loans  are 
never  effected  through  'information  of  the  Agency  sort.  Special 
Agents  go  out ;  other  Agents  or  Attorneys  are  sent  here  to  inquire 
on  the  ground  into  the  security  of  proposed  investments;  and  the 
office  of  the  Agencies  is  therefore  reduced  to  that  of  prepared 
detectives  in  the  lighter  transactions  between  firms  and  individuals 
cis  and  trans  Atlantic.  In  these  dealings,  which  ought  to  be  on 
a  plane  of  equality  between  the  respective  nationalities,  the  home 
American  is  always  the  inquired  about,  never  the  inquirer ;  and 
the  purpose  of  the  foreign  offices  can,  therefore,  only  be  to  exer- 
cise in  London  or  Paris  the  same  profitable  surveillance  over  our 
citizens  which  the  Parent  Agencies  render  so  remunerative  in  this 
country.  As  the  American  is  the  only  man  who  submits  to  it  in 
his  native  land,  it  is  fitting,  perhaps,  when  his  business  lies  abroad, 
he  should  be  made  to  pay  toll  again,  or  take  the  consequences. 

Kightly  or  wrongly,  no  business  man  or  firm  having  foreign 
relations  can  wholly  afford  to  disregard  the  significance  of  the 
geographical  position  of  these  foreign  branches.  An  unfavorable 
rumor,  however  started — even  if  started  to  be  silenced  on  proper 
inducement — obliges  the  inducement  to  be  forthcoming.  Among 
his  acquaintances,  a  man  with  average  grit  and  sufficient  capital  may 
do  business  in  a  storm  of  detraction.  Abroad,  a  whisper  is  ruinous ; 
and  he  is  inconsiderate  of  his  interests  who  does  not  purchase 
silence  or  buy  encomiums. 

Our  own  impression  is  that  these  foreign  branches  are  not 
growing  in  favor,  and  cannot  become  permanent,  self-sustaining 
establishments.  Their  main  revenue  has  always  been  collected  oil 
this  side  of  the  water  from  the  class  of  persons  who  desire  decoys 
to  credit  on  the  other  side;  and  they  are  so  generally  suspected  now 
by  British,  French,  and  German  Merchants,  on  account  of  recent 
occurrences,  that  their  usefulness,  even  to  the  fraudulently  disposed, 
must,  before  long,  come  to  an  end.  Their  only  duty  will  bo 
purely  scenic  and  spectacular.  In  the  show  business  every  wagon 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  89 

and  box  adds  to  the  effect  of  the  cavalcade.  In  the  Agency 
business  every  oflice  is  an  advertisement.  "When,  however,  in  the 
former  calling,  the  audience  discover  that  the  beasts  and  per- 
forming animals  bear  an  absurd  proportion  to  the  cages  and 
conveyances,  they  invest  in  no  more  tickets  for  that  circus. 
By  parity,  when  the  foreign  man  of  trade  will  no  longer  be 
deceived,  and  the  fraudulent  trader  here  can  procure  no  benefit, 
the  foreign  offices  will  be  dispensed  with  as  mere  advertising 
luxuries,  cheap  indeed,  but  valueless  for  revenue  in  the  New 
"World  or  the  Old.  Jonathan  will  then  cease  to  supply  Europe 
with  a  standing  proof  of  his  want  of  confidence  in  himself.  Be- 
sides, Bucket-shops  are  profitless  when  exposed  to  the  authorities. 


00  THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

DO    THE   AGENCIES    CONTRIBUTE    TO,    OR    LESSEN,    PANICS    IN 
TRADE  ? 

THE  panic  of  1837  is  explained  in  various  ways.  Some  say 
the  Stock  speculations  of  men  like  Nicholas  Biddle,  Jacob  Barker, 
J.  ~W.  Bleecker,  and  Samuel  J.  Beebe — the  king  operators  of  ten 
years  preceding  the  catastrophe — were  the  efficient  cause.  In 
support  of  this  theory  they  contrast  the  great  fluctuations  in  the 
favorite  Stocks  of  the  day,  and  give  the  following  examples  : 

Nov.  25,  1834.  Aug.  25,  1835. 

Morris  Railroad 70  200 

Harlem  Railroad .64  105 

Dry-Dock  Bank 118  145 

Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal 72  113 

An  advance  so  purely  speculative  indicated  "  corners"  worthy 
of  comparison  with  the  worst  of  our  time ;  but  mere  Stock  specu- 
lation could  not  have  produced  the  wide-spread  destruction  of 
1837. 

Our  own  explanation  takes  a  more  commercial  turn.  Forty  mil- 
lions had  been  invested  in  the  purchase  of  wild  land  in  the  fiscal 
year  '35-6 !  The  process  of  locking  up  private  capital  in  unpro- 
ductive land  had  been  going  on  for  years.  The  Railroad  system, 
then  just  beginning  to  draw  to  itself,  in  the  hope  of  future  profit, 
private  means  and  public  credit  both,  had  succeeded  in  absorbing 
forty  millions  more.  Other  schemes  of  internal  improvement, 
Canals,  Turnpikes,  etc.,  had,  to  the  extent  of  fifty  millions  for 
the  former,  and  twenty-five  millions  for  the  latter,  absorbed  labor 
and  resources  "in  drafts  upon  posterity,"  leaving  Bonds  and 
Scrips  in  the  place  of  the  (for  all  immediate  purposes)  destroyed 
values.  Counting  the  Bank  Bonds,  there  were  at  least  $185,000,- 
000  of  artificial  representatives  of  removed  or  unproductive  values 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  91 

in  the  country,  and,  coincidently,  a  great  shrinkage  in  proportion  to 
population  of  productive  agricultural  labor.  A  lax  credit  system 
extended  from  Europe  to  America  and  permeated  every  condition 
of  life  to  an  enormous  extent.  Men  worked  less  and  "  indulged  " 
more  than  ever  before.  The  crisis  came  with  the  defective 
harvests  of  '36.  "When  Flour  was  worth  $22  per  barrel  in  Chi- 
cago, twenty  days  of  excessive  rain  destroyed  the  crops ;  and  the 
West — so  called — which,  it  was  hoped,  would  come  to  the  rescue, 
failed  for  a  hundred  millions,  and  brought  the  rest  of  the  country 
tumbling  down  with  her.  In  three  years,  according  to  Medbury, 
sixty  Banks  sank  out  of  sight,  dragging  $132,000,000  into  the 
vortex,  and  out  of  an  aggregate  indebtedness  of  $440,000,000  the 
Creditor  Class  could  not  realize  over  one  cent  on  the  dollar,  the 
rest  disappearing  in  collectors'  fees,  brokers'  commissions,  and  the 
costs  of  Courts,  Lawyers,  and  Juries.  The  sinking  of  active  capi- 
tal in  wild  lands  ;  the  neglect  to  cultivate  arable  lands  in  propor- 
tion to  growth  of  population  and  trading  needs ;  the  withdrawal 
of  the  labor  which  should  have  gone  to  productive  uses  from 
them,  and  its  diversion  to  heaping  up  dirt  for  future  railroads,  and 
sinking  ditches  for  future  canals,  prepared  the  country  for  the 
catastrophe ;  and  the  elements,  as  if  teaching  the  lesson  that  Nature 
should  not  always  be  relied  on  to  compensate  for  any  unwonted 
dependence  on  her,  precipitated  the  disaster  and  made  it  uni- 
versal. 

"Whatever  explanation,  however,  be  the  true  one,  the  Agency 
system  had  its  birth  shortly  after  the  Panic  of  '37 ;  and  the  peri- 
odical Trade  panics  since  that  time  have  occurred  in  presence  of  its 
continuous  development,  and  as  if  in  derisive  commentary  on  its 
pretensions.  If  its  claims  were  well  founded,  trade  panics  would 
have  been  reduced  or  impossible  ever  since  1850,  when  it  claimed 
to  embrace  the  greater  part  of  the  commercial  class.  As  matter 
of  fact,  they  have  been  constantly  shortening  the  period  of  their 
recurrence  and  extending  the  area  of  their  destructiveness.  Of 
two  things,  one  :  either  the  Agencies  have  not  served  the  purpose 
of  their  origin  in  giving  correct  estimates  of  business  risks,  or 
the  trading  body  has  disregarded  their  advice,  and  either  credited 
when  it  should  not,  or  injuriously  refused  to  do  business  when 
it  might  credit  safely  and  profitably.  "We  do  not  argue  post  hoc 
ergo  propter  hoc,  but  we  say  that  if  we  find  commercial  panics 


92  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

increase  in  number,  volume,  and  intensity  in  the  presence  of  a 
system  which  claims  to  afford  protection  against  them  by  enabling 
business  to  be  conducted  on  a  rationally  safe  basis,  we  cannot 
escape  denying  the  efficacy  of  the  system  or  admitting  that  it  is 
not  followed.  Either  is  true ;  and  either  leaves  the  system,  we 
were  about  to  say,  a  fraud  on  subscribers  or  a  deception  to  the 
community. 

Their  difficulty  does  not  end  Avith  this  dilemma.  If  they  do 
not  convey  a  reliable  basis  for  traffic,  if  they  are  not  generally 
credited  with  doing  so,  why  do  they  persist  in  urging  unreliable 
ratings  on  the  public  and  forcing  a  market  which  the  customer's 
own  conduct  shows  to  be  irksome  and  valueless  ?  Are  they  Black- 
mailers— coercers  of  others'  money,  giving  no  equivalent,  of  right 
belonging  to  them  ?  Certainly  the  persistent  tender  of  a  valueless 
commodity  to  our  citizens,  accompanied  with  the  opportunity  of 
rendering  the  commodity  annoying  and  mischievous  if  not  pur- 
chased, is  a  suspicious  method  of  livelihood,  especially  when  it  is 
remembered  that  the  standing,  character,  and  worldly  credit  of 
others  than  themselves  are  the  exclusive  subjects  of  sale.  If  it  be 
not  Blackmailing,  it  is  assuredly  not  commerce.  There  is  such  a 
thing  as  a  purely  sentimental  traffic  in  Belies  and  Antiques.  We 
should  call  it  highway  robbery,  however,  if  the  collector  effected 
an  exchange  for  gold  at  the  muzzle  of  a  pistol. 

But  the  regular  publication  of  Agency  Reports  is  the  introduc- 
tion into  Trade  channels  of  an  affirmatively  disturbing  and  injuri- 
ous element.  Disregarded,  in  the  main,  at  and  near  the  residence 
of  the  Merchant  whose  credit  is  rated,  well  or  ill,  accurately  by 
guess-work,  or  the  reverse  by  design,  the  Printed  Eeports  must 
have  the  effect,  at  a  distance,  of  putting  caution  asleep  and  anaes- 
thetizing suspicion.  Suppose  twenty-five  thousand  Subscribers — 
Merchants,  Manufacturers,  Traders,  and  Bankers — in  the  principal 
commercial  centres  are  rated  to  secure  and  preserve  their  subscrip- 
tions— that  is,  as  they  would  wish  to  be — and  an  equal  or  greater 
number  are  rated  so  as  to  make  them  anxious  to  be  rated  better  by 
subscribing :  we  have  fifty  or  more  thousand  men,  in  the  chief 
seats  of  commerce,  magnified  or  diminished  in  capital  and  credit 
for  reasons  wholly  apart  from  Trade  reasons  and  at  variance 
with  the  natural  ebb  and  flow  of  commercial  affairs.  The  actual 
condition  of  business  is  travestied,  year  in  and  year  out,  by  an  arti- 


THE    SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  93 

ficial  one.  A  constantly  active  and  aggressive  interest  is  tamper- 
ing with  the  weights  and  measures  of  credit  and  capital.  If  the 
seller  does  not  wholly  believe  in  or  act  on  them,  he  is  not  apt  to 
totally  overlook  them,  and  is  more  or  less,  although  unconsciously, 
likely  to  accept  and  be  influenced  by  them  in  some  degree.  This 
is  the  first  disturbance  of  Trade.  If  we  add  to  this  that  the  capi- 
tal ratings  of  the  Reports  represent,  in  the  case  of  800,000  names, 
a  variable  excess  over  the  minimum  capital  three  and  a  half  times 
greater  than  the  minimum  of  the  Eatings,  and  vastly  in  excess  of 
the  estimated  census  wealth  of  the  whole  country,  we  see,  at  once, 
that  the  Agencies  interject  a  second  element  of  miscalculation,  also 
necessarily  injurious  and  misleading.  But  when  we  know  that  the 
Printed  Ratings  of  Capital  are  constantly  circulated  by  the  three 
Agencies  to  30,000  Subscribers,  while  the  Secret  Reports,  designed 
to  modify  them,  are  never  publicly  sent  out ;  that  the  bane  is  sold 
and  scattered  broadcast,  and  the  antidote,  real  or  pretended,  is 
locked  up  in  the  Agency  archives  to  be  shown  to  others  than  the 
persons  affected,  only  when  specially  applied  for,  we  need  no 
further  proof  that  in  proportion  to  the  growth  of  the  Agencies 
must  be  the  growth  of  dangerous  trading,  and  consequently  of 
Trade  panics — the  first-born  of  inconsiderate  Adventure. 

The  panic  of  1854  was  precipitated  by  the  loss  of  a  California 
steamer,  which  threw  the  house  of  Paige,  Bacon  &  Co.  into  sus- 
pension, and  so  unsettled  confidence  in  others  that  the  single  event 
assumed  the  dimensions  of  a  national  calamity.  If  we  consider  the 
usual  risks  taken  by  Traders,  the  narrow  margin  of  true  profit,  and 
the  inevitable  losses,  we  shall  find  no  difficulty  in  believing  that 
the  additional  errors  and  losses  brought  about  by  Agency  misinfor- 
mation, in  even  one  year,  greatly  exceed  in  volume  the  freight  of  any 
dozen  vessels  that  ever  sailed  the  seas,  or  the  capital  of  any  dozen 
trading  firms  in  the  United  States.  The  growing  dependence,  too, 
of  one  Trade  interest  on  every  other  enlarges  the  area  of  influence 
and  danger,  while,  within  the  special  Trade  most  -directly  con- 
cerned, a  surprising  suspension  carries  within  itself  the  causes  and 
occasions  of  a  series  of  others,  each  more  alarming  and  calamitous 
than  the  last.  The  suspension  of  one  Bank  or  Trust  Company 
creates  a  run,  more  or  less,  on  a  dozen  Banks.  The  unnecessary, 
unexpected,  and  extra  business  losses  caused  by  Agencies  are,  of 


9i  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

all  others,  the  most  apt  to  astonish  and  dismay  merchants,  and  to 
create  a  partial  or  general  panic  in  the  line. 

The  preceding  pages  have  barely  touched  the  mass  of  losses 
caused,  within  the  personal  knowledge  of  the  writer,  in  a  few  cities 
in  a  brief  period  by  one  Agency,  and  the  list  might  be  almost  in. 
finitely  extended  if  space  permitted.  We  can  only  instance  an  ag- 
gravated additional  example  of  the  same  kind,  which  has  just 
found  its  way  into  Court. 

About  $10,000  or  thereabouts,  in  paper,  of  a  New-Orleans  mer- 
chant was  offered  in  Montreal  in  connection  with  an  advantageous 
bargain  to  a  merchant  of  the  latter  city  named  J.  A.  Converse. 
He  applied  to  the  Montreal  office  of  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  for  special 
information,  stating  the  facts.  The  Agency,  after  some  delay,  gave 
him  special  assurance  that  the  drawee  was  good  for  almost  any 
amount.  The  bargain  was  effected  under  this  advice,  and  the 
Montreal  merchant  placed  the  Notes  in  the  Collection  Bureau  of 
the  Agency  for  collection.  The  Collection  Bureau,  within  a  few 
days,  and  ignorant  of  the  advice  given  by  its  Company,  returned 
the  Notes  as  valueless,  and  reported  to  the  merchant  that  the  New- 
Orleans  trader  had  failed  months  before ! 

Here  was  not  alone  the  gross  neglect  to  inquire,  and  resulting 
ignorance,  such  as  we  have  shown  to  be  normal  with  the  Agencies, 
but  the  exercise  of  a  special  effort  to  procure  the  truth  resulting  in 
a  loss  of  $10,000  to  Mr.  Converse,  whose  damages  may  be  recover- 
ed in  the  Courts,  but  whose  serious  loss  must  have  produced  in  his 
line  of  trading  many  consequential  losses,  and  perhaps  failure  to 
others  having  relations  with  him. 

This  occurrence — only  one  of  many  similar  ones  which  our 
space  does  not  permit  us  to  detail — was  no  doubt  the  predisposing 
cause  of  the  urgent  haste  with  which  the  "  New  Agreement,"  re- 
ferred to  in  a  former  chapter,  was  pressed  on  the  attention  of 
managers,  and  the  old  one  surreptitiously  withdrawn  and  can- 
celled. The  Agency,  accustomed  heretofore  to  mere  suits  for  Libel 
with  incidents  of  Damage,  was  naturally  alarmed  at  an  action  seek- 
ing to  recover  losses  arising  from  false  information ;  and  it  sought 
to  interpose  between  itself  and  an  inevitable  Bankruptcy,  for  this 
cause,  a  double-dealing  contract  which  protected  it  from  the 
consequences  of  an  almost  universal  ignorance.  Under  the  last,  or 
"New"  Agreement,  the  Agency  has  secured  a  double  purpose, 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  05 

that  is,  tied  the  hands  of  its  subscribers  and  enabled  itself  to  com- 
bine, if  it  should  choose,  with  fraudulent  traders  with  impunity. 

What  is  to  prevent  the  happening  of  such  a  fraud  as  Eoss  & 
Co.  perpetrated  on  Wall  street  in  1866,  if  any  member  of  any  of 
the  Agencies  were  induced,  in  view  of  the  present  want  of  respon- 
sibility under  the  new  agreement,  to  enter  into  an  arrangement  for 
its  repetition  ?  Eoss  &  Co.  established  themselves  in  the  vicinity 
of  Wall  street  at  the  time  mentioned,  and  secured,  by  means  which 
may  be  readily  comprehended,  Agency  indorsement.  With  its  as- 
sistance they  collected  $600,000  on  deposit  within  a  short  period. 
Having  a  moderate  ambition,  this  sum  satisfied  them,  and  they  set 
about  possessing  it  in  their  own  right.  Knowing  that  we  had  no 
"Extradition  Treaty  with  Brazil,  they  chartered  a  schooner  for  one 
of  the  ports  of  that  country,  set  sail  on  a  Saturday  evening  with 
the  treasure,  and  paid  $25,000  to  the  captain  to  land  them  in  safe- 
ty. Somewhere  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  the  captain  conceived  a 
desire  for  a  larger  share  of  the  plunder,  and  exacted  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  Eoss  &  Co.  paid  it.  The  vessel  and 
treasure  landed ;  the  indorsed  Bankers  have  not  since  been  heard 
of,  and  the  deceived  depositors  passed  quietly  into  the  procession 
of  Agency  dupes. 

If  the  Agencies  had  correctly  rated  Henry  Clews  &  Co.,  Dun- 
can, Sherman  &  Co.,  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.,  Howes  &  Macy,  and  others, 
when  they  pretended  to  rate  them  at  all,  the  last  Panic,  under 
which  we  are  still  laboring,  would  not  have  spread  so  far  or  struck 
so  deep ;  but  rating  them  as  they  did,  in  "  Unlimited  Credit"  and 
with  "  Unlimited  Capital,"  they  spread  a  net  for  their  patrons,  and 
rendered  disaster  more  disastrous  by  lulling  inquiry. 

At  the  best,  Trade  in  the  United  States,  ever  since  the  close  of 
the  war,  has  been  easily  affected  by  comparatively  small  disturb- 
ances. Sixty  thousand  Books,  issued  half  yearly  and  quarterly  to 
thirty  thousand  merchants,  and  incorrectly  rating  650,000  men  out 
of  800,000,  would  seem  to  supply  a  sufficient  explanation  and  to 
afford  a  reasonable  solution  for  many  untoward  vicissitudes  in  the 
business  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Panics  have  grown 
out  of  lesser  influences;  and  it  is  our  belief  that  the  Agencies  not 
only  do  not  assist  to  give  stability  and  security  to  Trade,  but  that 
they  Always  and  everywhere  unsettle  commercial  relations  just  in 
proportion  to  the  attention  which  they  attract. 


96  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

DO  THE  AGENCIES  MAKE  THE  CORRECTIONS  WHICH   THEY  CLAIM 
TO  MAKE  ?— BETRAYING  INQUIRERS  TO  EACH  OTHER. 

EVER  since  the  writer  announced  his  intention  to  introduce 
the  public  to  the  interior  of  the  Agencies  the  latter  have  shown 
great  alacrity  in  receiving  corrections  of  their  reports.  "Wanting 
other  information,  they  are  glad  to  take  the  merchant's  estimate 
of  himself,  and,  eager  to  be  rid  of  the  responsibility  for  grossly 
false  or  malicious  statements  already  gathered  or  published,  they 
promise  amends  and  place  the  indignant  merchant,  to  all  appear- 
ances, just  as  much  above  his  deserts  as  they  had  previously  placed 
him  below  them. 

They  are  as  considerate  and  accommodating  in  all  this  as  one 
of  their  own  canvassers  who,  exhausting  his  eloquence  in  vain  to 
get  a  statement  and  a  subscription,  recently  informed  a  city  mer- 
chant (a  Mr.  Wronkow)  that  he  would  be  obliged  by  the  loan  of 
five  dollars.  But  these  appearances  are  misleading  and  designed 
to  mislead.  For  one  injured  and  misrepresented  man  who  will 
call  on  them  for  a  correction  a  dozen  will  neglect  to  do  so,  or  re- 
main ignorant  of  a  reason  for  inquiring  except  as  this  book  may 
suggest  it.  It  is  not  yet  understood  by  business  men  that  the  best 
public  ratings  in  the  Reference  Books  are  often  only  cloaks  behind 
which  lurk  the  most  damaging  reports  ;  and  that  while  ratings 
may  remain  constant,  the  private  reports  may  be  variable  and  con- 
tradictory, and  vice  versa.  Persons  satisfied  with  their  ratings,  and 
not  learning  their  status  on  the  Black  Lists  from  us,  will  not  think 
of  calling  ;  whereas  those  who  do  call,  with  excerpts  from  the 
Black  Lists,  will  be  promised,  and  will  apparently  receive,  an  im- 
mediate correction  on  the  Printed  Reports,  with  many  verbal  pla- 
cating apologies  for  libel.  But  the  old  record  will  remain  in  the 
Books  ;  will  he  circulated  from  the  Branch  Offices  ;  and  will  he 
read  with  the  complainants'  "  say  so  "  every  time  the  latter  is  re- 
quested, for  years  to  come — just  as  the  secret  reports  of  some  of  our 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  07 

most  honored  merchants  contain,  within  twenty  lines  of  writing, 
details  of  purely  imaginary  and  scandalously  malicious  charges  of 
fraud  and  crime  alleged  to  have  been  committed  thirty  years  ago ! 
The  new  report  is  added,  indeed,  as  the  man's  opinion  of  himself  ; 
the  libels  it  was  meant  to  correct  remain  too,  to  be  read  in  every 
Branch  Office  in  the  United  States,  Canada,  and  Europe,  and  to  go 
down  and  out  with  the  modification,  as  the  only  "  outside,"  and 
therefore  controlling,  estimate  of  the  capital,  credit,  and  character 
of  the  affected  merchant.  The  Agencies  escape  punishment  for 
wrongs  done  ;  the  merchant  goes  about  his  business ;  but  the  first 
inquirer  at  the  agency  wiU  have  all  that  ever  was  written  of  him 
read  on  request,  just  as  if  no  complaint  had  been  made  or  amend- 
ment and  reparation  had  been  promised. 

The  erasure  from  the  secret  record  of  the  offensive  statements 
in  the  personal  presence  of  the  libelled,  both  in  the  principal  and 
Branch  offices,  would  alone  destroy  the  offensive  matter  and  cor- 
rect the  agencies'  habit  of  perpetuating  the  wholly  false  and  the 
half  true  indiscriminately.  This  has  never  been  done — the  agen- 
cies preferring  to  deceive  the  injured  by  an  amiable  exterior,  a 
penitent  expression,  and  an  abundance  of  lies. 

They  think  the  present  agitation  only  a  storm  after  all ;  and 
they  hope  to  quell  it  and  reach  quieter  times  by  being  "  all  things 
"  to  all  men,"  and  protesting  they  meant  no  harm  while  fatally 
stabbing  reputations  or  imperilling  the  success  of  a  lifetime. 

To  show  the  dovetailing  of  old  slanders  in  new  reports,  and  the 
system  adopted  of  reading  them  out  together,  we  select  the  instance 
of  a  well-known  Builder  in  ^Jew-York  City,  condensed  from  the 
Black  List  of  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  from  June  1861  to  1874, 
giving  also  the  names  of  persons  and  firms  to  whom  this  epitome 
was  read  at  the  periods  hereunder,  and  the  Branch  offices  to 
which  the  same  was  transmitted. 

VOL.  XI.,  PAGE  243,  NEW-YORK  CITY  RECORD. 


"  June  3d,  1861. — Failed  many  years  ago,  and  settled  at  25  cents  on  the  dollar.  Was 
some  time  out  of  business,  but  subsequently  got  a  large  contract  on  the  S Insti- 
tution, Washington.  Of  late  years  has  been  speculating  and  building  in  connection 
with  his  brother-in-law, ,  who  is  well  off  and  has  supplied  the  means  mostly.  An- 
tecedents are  bad,  and  he  is  not  reliable  ;  parties  who  sold  him  previous  to  his  failure 
decline  dealing  with  him  except  for  cash  down." 


OS  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

"  October  17th,  1873.— Is  still  Director  and  Stockholder  in  the  B National  Bank; 

"  also  in  the  New- York Insurance  Company.     Owns  valuable  farm  at ,  Conn., 

"  and  several  valuable  pieces  of  real  estate  in  this  city.  He  says  he  is  worth  nearly  a 
"  half  million  dollars,  while  more  consen<ative  men  place  him  at  from  $100,000  to  §200,- 
"  000.  Is  sharp  and  shrewd,  but  inclined  to  be  a  little  overreaching ;  consequently  he 
"  is  notpopular.  Parties  dealing  with  him  should  have  their  contracts  clearly  defined." 


6666— Syracuse  Branch  Office. 
4700 — Albany  Branch  office. 
7061— Burr  &  Chichester. 


5564— C.  F.  Danbmann  &  Co. 
48-28— Equitable  Life  Assurance  Society. 
653— Tappan  &  Carr. 


''  January  30th,  1S74. — Owns  considerable  property,  and  is  no  doubt  worth  over 
1  $100,000.  Some  do  not  like  his  way  of  dealing,  but  still  is  regarded  good  where  a 
'  fair  understanding  is  had." 

VOL.  VIII.,  P.  558. 

"  October  22cl,  187-4.—  Failed  in  1845,  owing  $64,000,  and  never  settled.  Continued 
building  on  contracts,  and  has  since  accumulated  real  estate  variously  estimated 
worth  $100,000  to  $300,000.  Is  at  present  doing  no  active  business.  Is  a  Director 

and  Stockholder  in  the  B National  Bank.    Is  regarded  sharp,  shrewd,  and,  his 

previous  history  shows,  somewhat  unscrupulous,  although  it  is  thought  that  for  $2000 
to  $3000  he  would  be  a  fair  risk,  and  would  doubtless  settle  if  matters  were  clearly 
denned." 


3798— Peoples'  Bank. 
302S— E.  Cole  &  Co. 
3281— Dannatt  &  Brother. 


5651— Harris,  Richmond  &  Schaffer. 
5901— F.  Krutina  &  Co. 


By  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.'s  own  printed  Report  this  well- 
known  citizen,  "  who  is  not  reliable,"  who  "  settled  "  and  "  did  not 
settle,"  who  is  a  "  fair  business  risk  for  only  $2000  or  S3000 
when  clearly  defined,"  is  rated  "D  2  "—850,000  to  $100,000— and 
good  credit  !  By  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.,  A  1,  1,  A  a — $750,- 
000  to  $1,000,000— highest,  undoubted  commercial  credit  !  By 
J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son,  A  A,  B  B — superior  business  character 
and  ability,  and  in  excellent  credit ! 

Xot  alone  is  the  contradiction  of  the  report  glaring  and  unac- 
countable, but  the  reader  must  not  omit  to  notice  that  the  subject- 
matter  has  passed  from  Yol.  XI.  back  to  Yol.  YIIL  of  the  Ee- 
ports  ;  so  that,  even  if  the  agency  allowed  the  error  to  be  amended 
and  erased  from  the  last  volume,  the  derogatory  matter  would  still 
remain  on  the  earlier  books,  to  be  seen  and  used  of  all  subscribers, 
on  request. 

Perhaps  no  class  of  persons  are  more  persistently  and  con- 
tinuously libelled  than  those  engaged  in  competing  with  the  col- 
lection bureaux  of  the  Agencies,  and  we  find  hostile  reports  of 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  99 

these  firms  and  associations  running  through  the  volumes  in  every 
direction.  The  Merchants'  Law  and  Collection  Association,  Ul- 
man  &  Remington,  John  II.  Watson  &  Co.,  Cohn  &  Co.,  and 
others,  are  industriously  assailed  because  they,  each  in  their  own 
way,  lessen  the  product  of  the  Agencies'  collections  ;  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  men  like  Watson  and  associations  like  the  Mer- 
chants' Law  and  Collection  Association  will  not  rest  content  with 
mere  contradiction,  but  will  show  our  merchants  and  traders 
the  best  method  of  having  every  thing  offensive  and  false  indubi- 
tably erased,  as  Avell  as  denied  and  excused.  The  advantage  of 
such  example  would  soon  crowd  the  branch  offices  of  the  Agencies 
with  clamorous  subscribers  and  non-subscribers  who  have  suffered 
for  years,  and  these  too-patient  people  would  exact  the  same  pre- 
caution against  future  wrongs  to  reputation  and  impediments  to> 
business. 

Lot  it  be  understood  that  erasure  is  the  only  means  of  getting- 
rid,  for  the  time  being,  of  erroneous  and  scandalous  matter;  that  to. 
be  thorough  it  must  be  procured  in  the  branch  offices  as  well  a.  sin 
the  principal  offices  ;  and  that  persons  affected  should  not  rest  until 
they  had  assured  themselves  by  personal  inspection  that  the  true 
Black  List — the  most  destructive  and  injurious  reports — had  really 
been  exhibited  to  them  and  destroyed.  Many  have  complained 
and  been  put  off.  It  rests  with  the  readers  of  this  work  to  secure 
effectual  protection  from  at  least  the  repetition  of  baseless  rumors 
and  groundless  accusations. 

The  past  wrong  righted,  however,  what  security  can  be  devised 
for  the  future  consistently  with  the  existence  of  these  Agencies  ? 
This  is  the  true  question.  In  the  presence  of  almost  innumerable 
libels  and  slanders  emanating  from  certain  of  the  persons  employed 
by  the  Agencies  during  the  past  thirty-four  years,  they  have  not 
been  brought  face  to  face  with  more  than  fifty  suits,  owing  to  their 
methods  of  secrecy  and  prompt  compromise  of  threatened  difficul- 
ties. These  same  precautions  and  readiness  to  arrest  legal  ex- 
posure of  their  system  will  be  taken  hereafter.  Suits  brought  will 
be  compromised ;  suits  threatened  will  be  anticipated  by  friendly 
ratings ;  proposed  legislation  will  be  lobbied  down  with  money ; 
and,  unless  this  exposure  bear  fruit  in  some  concerted  action 
against  the  institution,  vast  sums  will  be  continued  to  be  forced 
out  of  cowardly  merchants,  and  private  character  will  continue  to 


100  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

be  at  the  mercy  of  every  one  who  has  a  point  to  make  against  an 
adversary  or  a  business  grief  to  gratify.  Without  private  reports 
the  public  ratings  would  be  quickly  discovered  valueless,  or 
friendly  and  misleading ;  so  that  the  preservation  of  these  reports 
is  essential  to  the  existence  of  the  Agencies ;  must  bo  persisted  in 
from  necessity ;  and  even  if  old  libels  are  expunged,  new  ones  must 
be  written  and  uttered.  The  only  true  cure  is  in  the  hands  of 
merchants  themselves.  I<et  them  refuse  to  renew  their  subscrip- 
tions under  such  new  agreement  as  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  tender, 
and  let  the  State  Legislatures,  under  their  influence,  pass  laws  com- 
pelling the  Agencies,  under  the  penalty  of  fine  and  imprisonment, 
requiring  every  reference  to  a  man's  credit,  business  standing,  or 
-private  character  to  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  any  citizen 
who  may  consider  himself  interested.  There  is  no  hardship  in 
this  proposition.  Whatever  the  Agencies  hold  out  as  subject  to 
general  sale  ought  to  be  subject  to  general  inspection.  If  this  re- 
quirement would  be  onerous  to  the  Agencies  it  would  only  be  just 
to  the  public,  whose  characters  are  the  staple  of  the  Agencies' 
speculations  and  profits.  If  the  Agencies  should  urge  the  needless 
publicity  of  this  plan,  we  answer,  only  those  will  examine  who  are 
interested,  as  now  ;  whereas,  not  as  now,  the  party  more  interested 
than  all  others,  the  reported,  will  have  an  opportunity  of  knowing 
what  is  said  about  him,  and  to  whom  it  is  said.  If  it  be  true,  the 
Agencies  will  have  saved  their  subscribers  from  loss,  and  should 
stick  to  it  as  a  portion  of  the  venture,  for  which  they  are  paid  so 
handsomely ;  if  it  is  false,  it  may  be  corrected  as  soon  as  known, 
and  so  save  imperilled  credit  and  assailed  character  from  a  slow, 
secret,  and  assassin-like  destruction. 

But  how  can  the  Agencies  pretend  to  lessen  the  publicity  of 
unfavorable  matter  ?  Why,  it  occupies  a  great  part  of  the  time  of 
the  Agencies  to  give  the  names  of  subscribers  who  have  secretly  in- 
quired about  their  neighbors,  and  these  names  are  seldom  refused  ! 
That  is  to  say,  the  Agencies  betray  all  parties  in  turn:  inquir- 
ers to  each  other,  and  subscribers,  for  small  and  large  yearly  sums, 
alike. 

For  instance,  if  Opdycke,  Terry  &  Steele,  or  Evans,  Peake  & 
Co.,  dry-goods,  of  New-York,  wish  to  know  if  E.  S.  Jaffray  &  Co., 
H.  B.  Claflin  &  Co.,  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co.,  or  any  other  house  in 
their  own  or  other  lines  of  trade,  have  inquired  about  Clement, 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  101 

Morton  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  Jones,  Warner  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia, 
'or  J.  &  L.  Seasongood,  of  Baltimore,  they  will  learn  the  fact  at 
once;  and  the  customers  may  readily  be  induced  to  change  their 
place  of  trading  by  a  representation  of  the  last  inquirer  that  the 
others  had  secretly  inquired  about  them  at  the  Agency,  and  had 
'lost  confidence  in  their  credit !  We  know  that  subscribers  receive 
this  information  not  only  from  the  clerks,  but  are  formally  be- 
trayed, on  system,  and  not  as  an  isolated  fact  of  the  business.  By 
this  means  many  old  and  good  customers  are  lost  to  merchants, 
the  meanest  and  most  knavish  generally  being  successful  in  play- 
ing on  the  feelings  of  the  solicitor  for  credit,  and  inducing  him  to 
withdraw  from  relations  so  derogatory  to  self-respect  and  business 
pride.  If  the  Agencies  do  not  regard  the  interest  of  merchants 
who  apply  to  them  in  confidence,  they  cannot  put  on  a  show  of 
consideration  when  the  publicity  of  the  trader's  standing  only  is  at 
stake.  They  give  another  illustration  of  "  straining  at  a  gnat  and 
swallowing  a  camel."  We  know  of  dozens  of  subscribers  to  the 
Agencies  who  have  lost  in  one  year  one  hundred  times  the  amount 
of  their  subscription  by  having  their  inquiries  disclosed  to  compet- 
ing merchants,  who  took  advantage  of  the  circumstance  to  acquire 
new  customers.  The  best  customers,  in  fact,  were  generally  the 
efficient  cause  of  cupidity ;  for  who  would  desire  a  bad  one  ?  And 
when  a  good  one  could  be  got  by  so  simple  means,  who  would  hes- 
itate to  adopt  them  ? 


102  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER   XYI. 

THE  RELATIONS  OP  AGENCIES  TO  NON-SUBSCRIBERS  AND  "  STREET" 
RUMORS— COULD  CREDITS  BE  GUARANTEED  AND  BUSINESS  PRO- 
FITS MADE  TO  DEPEND  MORE  EXCLUSIVELY  ON  THE  AMOUNT 
OF  SALES? 

WE  have  heretofore  mainly  addressed  ourselves  to  Agency 
subscribers,  accustomed  to  see  the  Books,  to  read  the  Notification 
Sheets,  and  to  be  brought  into  contact  with  the  Solicitors,  Offices, 
or  Collectors.  Such  a  relation  implies  a  certain  amount  of  expe- 
rience ;  and  we  have  taken  this  experience  for  granted,  and  written 
as  if  it  relieved  us  from  much  of  mere  explanation  and  also  a  great 
many  illustrations.  Every  reader  of  this  Book  will  have  seen,  in 
his  own  limited  circle,  dozens  of  proofs  of  ignorance,  mistake,  or 
malice  ;  every  one  who  has  applied  for  a  "  private  report "  at  the 
offices  has  had  an  opportunity  of  securing  a  taste  of  the  silly,  rot- 
ten, or  rancid  stuff  which  they  dole  out  as  carefully  and  solemnly 
as  if  it  were  honey  from  Hybla  or  the  chrism  of  some  tremendous 
religious  rite ;  and  every  one  who  has  met  tjie  "  Credit  men,"  Can- 
vassers, and  Collectors  need  not  be  told,  at  any  great  length,  of  their 
amenability  to  impression,  properly  made,  their  assiduity  in  urg- 
ing threats  under  the  disguise  of  applications,  and  their  readiness 
to  receive,  as  honest  supplement  to  salary,  any  loose  change  which 
the  merchant  may  desire  to  spare.  For  subscribers  the  usefulness 
of  this  work  is  only  in  showing  that  their  particular  experience  is 
the  result  of  a  system  which  inevitably  renders  the  same  experience 
common  and  consequential ;  and  it  would  add  nothing  to  its  force 
if  we  were  to  pile  example  upon  example  of  the  efficiency  of  a 
five-dollar  bill,  the  saving  efficacy  of  a  chest  of  tea,  or  the  molli- 
fying effect  of  one  or  more  baskets  of  French  wines,  on  these 
Agency  spies.  If  each  reader  were  to  add,  to  the  sample  proofs 
supplied  by  us,  his  individual  experience,  a  mass  of  incidents,  corro- 
borative of  our  statements,  would  be  gathered  sufficient  to  fill  twenty 
books  as  large  as  this ;  and  it  is  manifestly  useless  for  us  to  go  on 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  103 

further,  page  after  page,  in  proving  again  and  again  what,  with  the 
evidence  already  in,  and  that  possessed  in  every  street,  town,  vil- 
lage, and  hamlet  in  the  land,  cannot  be  questioned.  We  turn, 
therefore,  to  that  vast  body  of  Merchants  and  Traders  who  prac- 
tically take  little,  if  any,  interest  in  the  existence  of  the  Agencies, 
or  do  not  know  of  their  existence  at  all  j  who  buy  and  sell,  give 
and  get  credit,  on  the  reputation  made  or  learned  in  the  good  old 
wray  of  the  good  old  time  before  Agencies  existed  ;  and  who  may 
see  no  danger  in  the  System  simply  because  they  have  never  rea- 
lized that  it  operates  on  them  without  their  knowledge.  Of  this 
number  more  than  800,000  exist  in  the  United  States  and  Canada ; 
for  the  30,000  subscribers  to  the  Agencies  are  really  the  only  ones 
who  make  it  a  habit  to  learn  how  themselves  are  rated,  how 
others  are  rated,  or  use  the  Reports  to  indulge  in  efforts  to  con- 
trol their  own  and  others'  ratings. 

Now,  it  is  just  among  this  great  body  of  wow-subscribers  that 
the  Agencies  exert  the  most  malign,  because  unknown,  influences. 
The  Subscribers  get  the  Reference  Books  and  learn  what  is  print- 
ed about  them — if  not,  what  is  on  the  secret  records.  The  non- 
subscribers  do  not  get  the  printed  Reports ;  have  no  means  of  even 
suspecting  what  is  said  of  them  in  the  private  records;  and  do 
business  in  perfect  ignorance  of  the  many  ways  of  affecting  their  cre- 
dit and  dealings  indulged  in  by  the  three  Agencies  and  their  Credit 
Raters  and  Detective  Correspondents.  A  w0w-subscriber  is  refused 
credit,  or  is  placed  on  a  low  margin  of  credit  by  a  wholesaler.  He 
sees  only  an  exercise  of  individual  caution  in  the  circumstance.  He 
is  suddenly  called  on  to  pay  up  by  a  creditor  from  whom  no  such 
message  is  expected  or  apparently  natural.  He  wonders  at  the 
novel  urgency,  and  pays  up  indignantly,  often  at  a  sacrifice.  He 
is  in  the  habit  of  exchanging  surplus  lines  of  stock  with  another 
trader,  and  even  this  convenience  is  abruptly  withdrawn.  He 
wonders  at  the  variableness  of  men,  and  still  sets  the  occurrence 
down  to  accident  or  to  an  uninfluenced  determination  of  his  co- 
trader.  The  true  explanation  is  to  be  found  in  the  unknown  and 
uncalculated  interference  with  his  name  by  the  Agencies  /  and  he 
either  struggles  with  less  profit  or  goes  out  of  business  under  a 
cloud,  without  discovering  the  fact  in  time  to  avert  the  conse- 
quences. 

There  is  a  sort  of  wild   justice  in  having   subscribers  hurt  by 


104  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

their  own  instrument  ;  but  it  is  certainly  inequitable  for  the  men 
who  are  either  too  respectful  to  enter  into  the  league,  or  who 
have  learned  to  do  business  without  reference  to  such  an  aid,  to 
be,  as  they  really  are,  more  hopelessly  and  unconsciously  thwarted 
and  maligned  than  any  other  class  of  merchants.  Whether  they 
seek  credit  or  not,  the  Agencies  rate  them  to  induce  subscription 
or  gratify  a  spite.  Whether  they  conduct  a  cash  trade  or  not,  the 
Agencies  claim  the  right  to  speculate  in  public  print  and  private 
record  about  their  affairs  and  character,  and  to  circulate  these  spec- 
ulations 011  the  grounds  that  some  one  else's  curiosity  may  be 
gratified  or  their  Book  List  swelled. 

The  Agencies  have  conceived  the  idea  of  making  a  separate 
and  profitable  business  for  themselves  out  of  other  men's  names 
and  reputations,  and  it  is  apparently  immaterial  to  them  whether 
or  not  a  third  person  should  ever  have  occasion  to  desire  informa- 
tion on  the  subject.  The  "  world  is  their  oyster,"  and  non-sub- 
scribers must  take  their  chance  of  being  accurately  or  inaccurately 
rated  and  criticised  by  every  mendacious  scoundrel  who  will  ren- 
der, gratuitously,  his  unworthy  services.  They  have  the  capital  of 
a  printing  establishment ;  and  other  men's  names  must  supply  an 
opportunity  for  its  profitable  use  while  ink  and  paper  and  print- 
ers can  be  had.  If  Agencies  had  any  justification  in  playing  with 
the  names  of  persons  asking  for  credit,  they  have  none  for  doing 
EO  with  traders  who  seek  no  credit.  If  they  had  any  pretence  of 
justification  in  instituting  inquiry  on  the  basis  of  a  real  application 
for  confidence  and  trust,  they  have  none  for  engaging  in  and  pub- 
lishing one  where  no  present  purpose  of  trade  is  to  be  subserved 
— where  none  ever  may  rise  to  be  subserved.  If  they  were  infal- 
lible it  might  be  harmless  to  trust  them  with  the  privilege  in  either 
event ;  but,  being  fallible,  why  should  the  non-subscribing  800,000 
merchants  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  be  compelled  to  un- 
dergo the  risks  attending  their  errors,  for  a  purely  hypothetical  fu- 
ture interest  ? 

The  wrong  and  impertinence  do  not  end  here.  The  non-sub- 
scriber who  is  terrified  by  their  assumption  may  think  if  he  pay 
one  year's  subscription  all  will  be  well.  ISTot  so  !  "  'Tis  the  first 
step  that  counts,"  but  mainly  because  retreat  out  of  the  meshes 
can  only  be  accomplished  at  a  risk  which  had  better  have  been  taken 
at  the  start — namely,  of  incurring  their  displeasure.  If  a  house  is 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  105 

satisfied  with  its  rating,  why  should  it  refuse,  not  merely  to  pay  at 
the  same  rate  as  the  first  year's  snhseription,  but  double  the 
amount  ?  If  it  be  not  satisfied  with  its  rating,  then  the  greater 
reason  exists  why  it  should  pay  freely  and  generously  any  addi- 
tional tax  imposed  on  the  succeeding  subscription-day.  Where  a 
man  of  assured  standing  refuses  plumply,  at  the  first  approach,  to 
have  anything  to  do  with  the  system,  he  can  only  be  rated  low  or 
ignored ;  and  the  system  is  generally  glad  to  let  him  in  on  the 
cheapest  rates  of  subscription,  if  he  deign  to  apply.  Where  a  trader 
voluntarily  applies,  or  is  easily  persuaded  to  apply,  either  from  an 
honest  or  fraudulent  motive,  he  is  made  to  pay  a  full  price  the  first 
year,  and  a  constantly  increasing  one  afterwards.  One  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  entrance-fee  in  the  larger  cities  may — often  does — 
run  up  to  $300  and  $500  yearly  after  2  or  3  years'  association. 
The  Agencies  well  know  that  every  dollar  given  to  them  is  an  in- 
ducement to  the  trader  to  keep  up  the  connection  for  this  period 
at  least ;  and  that,  between  the  consciousness  of  having  thrown 
away  so  much  money,  the  fear  of  being  worse  rated  in  the  event  of 
a  discontinuance,  and  the  hope  of  making  profit  out  of  the  agency 
misrepresentation,  many  of  those  who  enter  the  lists  will  struggle 
to  meet  the  exaction  for  a  few  years.  By  and  by,  however, 
they  see  that  concessions  bring  no  relief  :  they  must  refuse  to  pay 
at  all,  or  pay  some  time.  After  the  expiration  of  the  period  men- 
tioned they  do  refuse,  and  drop  out  of  one  agency  only  to  find  an- 
other at  the  door.  The  method  taken  to  run  up  subscriptions  is 
adroit  and  natural.  A  canvasser  says  to  the  merchant,  "We  rated 
"  your  business  at  so  and  so  last  year,  and  you  paid  only  so  much. 
"  Your  capital  is  larger  this  year,  and  your  business  increased. 
"  You  should  be  willing  to  pay  a  proportionate  increase  of  subscrip- 
"  tion."  The  merchant  does  not  wish  to  admit  either  that  his 
capital  or  business  is  less  than  during  the  past  year  ;  he  hopes  to 
have  it  regarded  more.  He  does  not  contradict  the  canvasser, 
therefore,  but  takes  the  hint  and  pays  out  his  money,  year  after 
year,  until  its  exceeding  amount  startles  him  and  determines  him 
to  break  with  the  monster,  at  whatever  cost. 

Some  business  men  and  firms  are  often  induced  to  subscribe 
to  the  three  Agencies  in  order  to  have  their  own  ratings  and  reports 
in  each  institution  agree  with  the  other  ;  and  where  the  credulous 
merchant,  unfamiliar  with  Agency  intrigue,  finds  uniformity  in 


IOC  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

their  separate  estimates  of  the  same  trader,  he  attributes  it  to 
honest  precision  rather  than  purchased  accuracy.  This,  how- 
ever, is  so  costly  aii  experiment  that  comparatively  few  indulge 
in  it. 

Any  subscriber,  paying  yearly  from  $150  to  $5000,  who 
should  volunteer  a  biassed  opinion  concerning  a  trader  of  whom 
he  presumes  to  know,  whether  a  rival  in  trade  or  otherwise,  will 
iind  it  readily  accepted  and  permanently  recorded  as  the  prevailing 
belief,  in  preference  to  the  opinion  of  a  subscriber  paying  a  less 
sum,  or  who  does  not  pay  the  Agency  at  all.  Herein  is  where 
subscribers  with  doubtful  motives  succeed  in  impressing  on  the 
Agencies,  actively,  their  own  impressions,  real  or  pretended.  A 
firm  is  found  by  its  rival  to  be  underselling  the  market  or  itself, 
having  bought  to  greater  advantage,  at  more  propitious  times, 
and  in  greater  quantities.  The  rival  need  only  say  to  the  Agency 
that  the  shrewder  firm  is  unloading  its  stock  under  market  rates, 
and  a  suspicion  of  smuggling,  or  an  intent  to  abscond  or  go  out 
of  business,  is  a  natural  conclusion.  So,  by  these  methods,  the  sub- 
scriber has  his  satisfaction  of  an  enmity  or  a  rivalry,  the  Agencies 
are  paid  handsomely,  and  the  better  merchants  go  to  the  wall  in 
the  long  run. 

But  let  us  take  the  case  of  a  merchant  heavily  interested  in  a 
debtor  on  the  brink  of  bankruptcy.  He  wants  to  save  whatever 
he  can  and  reduce  his  losses  by  drawing  others  into  the  catastrophe. 
He  has  only  to  report  to  the  Agencies  his  failing  customer  favor- 
ably. The  insolvent  increases  his  stock  and  enlarges  his  liabilities. 
In  due  time  he  tumbles  into  Bankruptcy;  his  assets  show  a 
diminution  proportioned  to  the  amount  paid  meantime  to  the 
fnendly  creditor  reporting.  There  is  nothing  strange  in  this  pro- 
ceeding. Every  new  credit  to  an  insolvent  assists  him  to  lessen 
his  liabilities  to  his  old  creditor  out  of  his  new  stock  ;  and  a  mer- 
chant, having  a  doubtful  debtor  on  hand,  would  stand  in  his  own 
light  if  he  failed  to  speak  well  of  him  to  all  inquirers,  more  par- 
ticularly the  Agencies.  The  consequence  is  that  insolvent  men's 
names  are  made  efficient,  by  Agency  interference,  to  spread  and 
assure  greater  disaster  to  the  many,  for  the  benefit  of  the  one,  or 
the  few,  in  the  secret. 

While  on  tliis  subject  of  the  general  circulation  given  to  false 
information,  designed  by  others  for  individual  injury,  we  should 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  107 

not  overlook  the  fact  that  the  late  Act  of  the  New- York  Legisla- 
ture, enacted  to  punish  the  authors  or  circulators  of  false  rumors 
intended  to  influence  the  "  Street "  or  unsettle  confidence,  might 
be  turned  to  good  account  on  the  Agencies,  not  as  Agencies,  but 
on  the  individual  proprietors,  on  fit  occasion.  If  the  law  is  worth 
anything  it  should  be  sufficient  to  support  a  prosecution  in  any  one 
of  the  thousand  flagrant  instances  afforded  by  Agency  error  ;  and 
if  it  should  not  be  sufficient  as  it  stands,  the  insufficiency  ought 
to  be  demonstrated,  so  that  the  next  Legislature  may  apply  a  more 
stringent  and  efficient  remedy  by  additional  legislation.  The 
prosecution  of  a  single  individual  "rumor-starter"  would  be  a 
hunting  of  the  wren  when  the  atmosphere  is  alive  with  the 
bigger  and  baser  birds  of  prey  from  Agency  eyries.  We  hear  of 
two  "  stock "  rumors,  recently  sent  out  with  firm  reports,  which 
ought  to  be  instantly  ventilated  in  the  Criminal  Courts,  and,  we 
trust,  will  be. 

The  Agency  system  having  been  shown  inefficient  in  its  whole 
scope  and  purpose,  as  well  as  in  its  practical  working,  the  question 
recurs,  is  there  no  way  of  increasing  the  certainties  of  merchants 
and  traders  in  ordinary  business  transactions,  of  a  sudden,  and 
without  putting  these  classes  to  the  safest  of  all  methods  of  in- 
quiry— special  individual  examination  ? 

It  occurs  to  the  writer  that  a  scheme  of  Commercial  Assur- 
ance or  Guarantee  of  Business  Risks  might  be  safely  tried  in  the 
great  cities.  It  would  require,  when  fitly  developed,  large  capital, 
but,  we  think,  not  more  at  the  start  than  could  readily  be  got  by 
calling  out  the  latent  resources  of  each  city,  and  leaving  every 
Company  which  might  be  formed  a  local  field  to  operate  in,  in- 
dependently. By  limiting  each  Company's  operations  to  a  con- 
venient district  of  territory,  it  would  be  enabled  to  secure  for  its 
own  use  exclusively,  and  for  the  direction  of  its  own  investment 
only,  the  best  attainable  estimates  of  credit  and  capital  of  Busi- 
ness men,  and  would  have  the  very  highest  inducement,  self- 
interest,  to  judge  accurately  and  invest  cautiously.  A  tariff  of 
charges  for  contracts  of  Guarantee  might  be  adopted  ;  undesirable 
risks  would  be  refused  ;  the  statements  of  seekers  for  credit  could 
be  reduced  to  writing  and  sworn  to ;  if  false,  the  Company  would 
have  cumulative  civil  or  criminal  remedies  at  its  disposal;  the 
wholesaler  whose  risks  were  accepted  would  secure  a  guarantee  of 


10S  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

prompt  payment  bj  the  Company,  for  a  reasonable  sliding  per- 
centage, and,  while  the  honest  trader  could  find  an  increased  facility 
for  legitimate  purchases,  sellers  might  rely  on  the  guarantee  Com- 
pany having  the  highest  attainable  certainty  before  it  became 
surety.  Given  a  certain  capital  and  good  management,  it  seems 
highly  probable  that  an  Institution  of  the  kind  mentioned  in  each 
city  would,  from  comparatively  small  beginnings,  soon  supply  a 
true  gauge  to  credit,  by  becoming  apart  of  the  wedit  process,  aud 
profitable  or  ruinous  to  itself,  according  to  its  own  accuracy  of 
estimate. 

Such  a  scheme  possesses,  in  reality,  several  features  which  the 
Agencies  claim,  but  do  not  possess.  It  assists  in  giving  security  to 
business  dealings.  It  eliminates  recklessness  of  statement ;  for  a 
good  risk  brings  profit,  and  a  bad  one  loss,  on  the  Guarantor, — the 
seller  escaping  in  either  event.  The  information  on  which  risks 
are  taken  is  collected  by  the  risk-taker ,  and  preserved  by  him  from 
outside  parties  as  his  permanent  capital.  Whether  accurate  or 
inaccurate,  it  is  harmless  to  the  man  who  does  not  seek  credit ;  and 
it  is  absolutely  sacred  in  the  instance  of  the  man  who  is  asking 
credit.  Every  honest  and  honorable  end  of  business  in  commer- 
cial dealing  is  attained,  and  private  character  is  even  less  discussed 
than  it  is  now  by  the  Agencies  every  discount  day  in  our  private 
Banks. 

The  common  experience  of  business  men  leads  them  to  expect 
in  the  safest  credit  trade  a  yearly  loss  of  from  five  to  ten  per  cent 
on  their  active  capital.  If  they  coulcL  be  assured  against  this  loss, 
or  the  possibility  of  a  greater,  Trading  would  become  a  Science 
and  Panics  impossible ! 

The  problem  to  be  solved  is,  therefore :  Could  capital  see,  in  the 
experiment  suggested,  enough  of  profit  to  protect  itself  ? 

The  same  tiling  is  done  now,  in  a  small  way,  by  some  of  the 
better  class  of  Commercial  Travellers.  Where  a  bad  debt  is  made 
under  their  recommendation,  the  loss  is  deducted  from  their  salaries 
and  Commissions  on  good  ones.  So  long  as  we  find  individuals 
ready  to  assume  this  responsibility,  and  able  to  make  money  by  do- 
ing so,  why  should  we  not  believe  the  like  might  be  done  by 
Guarantee  Companies,  in  the  leading  Cities  of  the  States  and  Cana- 
da? There  is  even  a  better  illustration  at  hand.  The  Cotton  and 
Tobacco  firm  of  Fatman  &  Co.,  Broad  street,  Kew-York,  with 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  109 

branches  in  various  cities  of  this  country  and  Europe,  handle  a 
business  of  over  $20,000,000  a  year  on  Guarantees  from  their 
Agents  and  Correspondents.  They  make  immense  sums  yearly, 
and  do  not  lose  a  dollar.  The  English  houses  of  John  Henry 
Schroder  &  Co.,  worth  £12,000,000,  and  Freeling  &  Goshen,  worth 
£3,000,000,  and  the  Bremen  House  of  D.  II.  Watgen  &  Co.,  worth 
$15,000,000,  guarantee  orders.  Fatman  &  Co.  buy  for  cash,  and 
their  Exchange  is  the  first  on  the  New- York  market,  being  readily 
and  eagerly  taken  by  any  of  our  Banks.  If  Schroder  &  Co.  can 
guarantee  orders  enabling  Fatman  &  Co.  to  piirsue  an  absolutely 
safe  business  on  a  time  margin  of  thirty  days,  why  could  not  Gua- 
rantee Companies,  selecting  men  of  the  best  knowledge  and  talent 
for  each  trade  to  assist  in  their  management,  do  the  same  ?  The 
salaries  paid  credit  men  in  large  Commercial  Houses  are  enormous 
in  the  aggregate.  These  would  be  largely  saved  to  the  Mercantile 
community.  The  Guarantee  Companies  would  afford  greater 
facilities  to  their  employees  for  the  exhibition  of  the  best  judgment, 
and  promotion  for  the  best  fidelity.  In  addition,  the  EIGHT  MIL- 
LION yearly  drain  of  the  Agencies  would  be  done  away  with,  and 
merchants  would  find  themselves  guaranteed  on  every  credit  at  an 
expense  of  only  a  small  proportion  of  their  present  Profit  and  Loss 
Accounts.  The  effect  on  trade  could  not  be  otherwise  than  favor- 
able. The  trader  who  could  not  safely  be  guaranteed  would  be 
obliged  to  either  confine  himself  to  small  purchases  for  cash,  if  no 
seller  could  be  found  speculative  enough  to  take  a  credit  risk,  or  go 
out  of  business.  This  would  tend  to  weed  trade  of  men  who, 
from  lack  of  financial  responsibility,  should  not  be  in  business,  and 
would  discourage  intended  fraud  from  a  useless  exertion.  It 
would,  we  think,  restore  commerce  to  a  healthy  condition.  The 
credit-seeker,  if  solvent,  could  have  no  motive  in  concealing  his 
true  status  from  the  Company,  knowing  from  its  character  that 
an  honest  disclosure  by  him  could  only  inure  to  his  benefit,  and 
would  not  be  perverted  and  circulated  to  his  own  detriment,  as  is 
now  done  by  the  Agencies,  to  promote  the  interests  of  a  rival 
trader. 

At  present  every  merchant  practically  insures  himself.  The 
Agencies  induce  more  losses  than  profits  and  eschew  responsibility. 
They  keep  the  word  of  promise  to  the  ear  and  break  it  to  the 
hope.  You  pay  for  their  pretended  information.  When  it  turns 


110  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

out  erroneous,  they  show  you  that,  by  the  very  terms  of  your  sub- 
scription-contract with  them,  the  men  whom  they  employ  or  in- 
quire from  are  your  own  Agents,  and  that  Agencies  are  not  re- 
sponsible for  their  accuracy  or  inaccuracy  !  Now,  if  the  mercantile 
classes  really  insure  themselves  on  all  credits,  so  far  as  the  Agencies 
are  concerned,  and  yet  support  the  latter  at  great  cost  to  them- 
selves, it  seems  reasonable  to  expect  that  a  scheme  which  would 
remove  the  'modicum  of  risk,  and  reduce  the  useless  expenditure 
at  the  same  time,  would  be  hailed  as  a  public  benefit.  We  make 
these  suggestions  to  anticipate  the  objection  that,  having  demon- 
strated the  inntility  of  the  Agencies,  we  have  no  remedy  to  sub- 
stitute which  would  partially  or  wholly  relieve  the  trader  from 
special  inquiry  in  regard  to  customers  at  a  dfstance.  The  idea  is 
neither  novel  nor  original  with  us.  We  iind  it  entertained  by 
several  large  mercantile  firms,  and  the  same  principle  is  practical- 
ly illustrated  by  a  firm  in  Cleveland,  in  a  limited  trade  sphere,  and 
with  perfect  success.  These  gentlemen  guarantee,  for  a  small  per 
cent,  all  approved  credits  in  a  particular  line,  and  have  made 
money  by  doing  so.  Why  could  not  a  series  of  companies  do  like- 
wise in  reference  to  all  Trades  ?  Another  example  is  before  us. 
In  New-York  an  association  lias  just  been  formed,  by  some  of  the 
most  experienced  capitalists,  to  guarantee  contracts  of  Insurance, 
etc.,  and  there  is  reason  to  hope  that  at  an  early  day  the  principle 
will  be  extended  to  many  other  classes  of  contracts  by  the  same 
company.  The  plan  is  sketched  to  reflect  the  opinion  of  experi- 
enced business  men  rather  than  our  own ;  and  while  we  express  the 
possible  arguments  in  favor  of  such  a  project,  we  do  not  commit 
ourselves  to  it,  for  our  experience  of  the  Commercial  Agency  Sys- 
tem has  taught  us  the  innumerable  opportunities  of  misapplication 
which  even  the  best-devised  arrangement  might  entail. 

This  discussion  has  brought  us  face  to  face  with  a  circumstance 
too  often  overlooked  by  merchants.  How  many  business  men 
have  fully  considered  the  danger  arising  from  the  present  method 
of  detailing  to  strangers  and  underlings  of  the  several  agencies,  in 
our  large  cities,  the  amount  of  negotiable  securities  on  hand  or  the 
quantity  and  kind  of  merchandise,  of  great  value  and  small  bulk? 
in  their  stock  ?  It  is  a  well -authenticated  fact  that  many  burglar- 
ies have  occurred  immediately  after  the  delivery  of  these  detailed 
statements  to  agency  reporters  !  A  merchant  wishing  to  confirm 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  Ill 

liis  assertions  of  available  assets,  or  requested  to  do  so,  gives  the 
names  of  Stocks  or  the  character  of  Bonds  held  by  him,  and,  to 
remove  all  doubt,  brings  them  out  of  his  safe  and  shows  them  to 
the  inquirer.  Or  he  takes  the  searcher  for  knowledge  over  his  pre- 
mises and  points  out  to  him  the  most  valuable  kinds  of  stock,  in 
bulk,  or  broken  for  custom.  The  dullest  rascal  could  not  fail  to 
learn  aids  to  crime,  for  himself  or  confederates,  in  these  thoughtless 
disclosures.  And  certainly,  when  we  learn  that  the  police  author- 
ities of  several  large  cities  are  discovered  to  have  long  been  in 
league  with  the  choice  spirits  of  the  various  departments  of  Statu- 
tory Crime,  we  shall  not  be  astonished  to  learn  that  more  than  one 
Bank,  Insurance,  and  private  robbery  has  been  perpetrated  to  get 
hold  of  portable  assets,  stocks,  bonds,  and  moneys,  which  the  owner 
had  carefully  kept  within  his  sole  personal  knowledge  until  the 
agency  spy  had  also  secured  the  important  details  of  time,  amount, 
character,  and  place.  How  few  clerks  are  fully  apprised,  from  day 
today,  of  the  state  of  their  employer's  capital,  except  in  a  small  bu- 
siness too  limited  to  afford  chance  of  reserve  !  Large  concerns 
may  have  one  or  more  confidential  men,  outside  of  the  partners, 
who  are  fully  informed  ;  but  the  general  run  of  employees  is  kept 
in  the  dark,  as  a  rule  of  discipline  if  not  wholly  as  a  matter  of  pre- 
caution. And  yet  the  Business  Classes  have  heretofore  foolishly 
opened  their  business  secrets  to  every  poorly-paid  Tom,  Dick,  and, 
Harry  who  presented  a  Mercantile  or  Commercial  Agency  card  and 
demanded  to  share  in  the  confidences  withheld  from  well-known 
and,  in  other  respects,  fully  trusted  servants.  A  Guarantee  Com- 
pany or  Companies  could  entail  no  such  danger  as  this  on  their 
patrons  without  suffering  themselves.  The  agencies  do  not  guard 
against  it ;  and  if  they  could,  have  no  interest  in  lessening  the 
risk  by  employing  only  the  best-known  citizens,  and  at  compensa- 
tive salaries.  Our  advice  to  Merchants  is  :  refuse  details  of  stock 
or  assets  to  inquirers  until  fully  satisfied  that  the  inquirer  is  not 
making  an  inventory  which  might  reach  and  assist  the  principal 
cracksmen  of  the  neighborhood. 


112  THE   COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  LEGAL  DIFFICULTIES  OF  THE  AGENCIES— HOW  THEY  STRIKE 
THEIR  COLORS  OR  ESCAPE  FROM  THE  FIELD— STRAWS  FROM 
THE  BAR. 

AN  institution  so  offensive  and  aggressive  as  the  agency  system 
very  naturally  ran  athwart  the  reputations  of  honest  business  men 
at  a  very  early  period  in  its  career.  Started  in  1842,  as  we  have 
stated,  Church,  its  first  traveller,  contrived  to  libel  (amongst 
others)  Taylor,  Hale  &  Murdock,  of  Columbus,  Miss.,  and  when 
the  libel  was  discovered  these  gentlemen  sued  the  libeller  for 
damages  in  the  Kew-York  Common  Pleas.  Church  defended  on 
the  ground  that  he  was  employed  by  certain  New- York  mer- 
chants to  "  report "  traders  for  them  as  their  agent ;  that  he  re- 
ported plaintiffs  to  Wolfe  and  Gillespie,  two  of  these  merchants, 
in  a  private  and  confidential  letter ;  that  he  had  never  seen  the 
plaintiffs,  bore  them  no  malice,  and  merely  repeated  what  he  had 
heard  in  reply  to  inquiry  ;  and  that  the  printing  of  his  report  was 
done  without  his  personal  supervision,  and  solely  by  his  employers. 
He  further  claimed  the  communication  was  confidential.  For  the 
plaintiff  it  was  contended  that  Church  published  the  libel  mali- 
ciously ;  that  it  was  written  to  be  published,  if  not  "  printed," 
and  that  it  was  not,  and  was  not  contained  in,  a  privileged  com- 
munication. The  case  finally  went  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  (-4 
Selden's  Reports,  p.  452),  which  decided  by  a  unanimous  bench 
that  the  report  was  not  privileged,  but  sent  the  case  back  for  a 
new  trial  on  an  exception  to  a  ruling  on  the  admissibility  of  evi- 
dence in  the  Court  below. 

The  decision  in  Taylor  et  al.  vs.  Church  embodies  all  the 
law  learning  on  the  subject  of  privileged  communications  up  to 
that  time,  and  contains  the  test  which  renders  all" more  recent 
agency  publications,  if  untrue  (and,  as  some  contend,  even  if  true), 
unprivileged  and  amenable  to  legal  restraint  and  both  compensa- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  113 

toiy  and  exemplary  damages.  The  printing  for  general  circula- 
tion, and  in  a  manner  which  might  reach  parties  having,  or  in- 
tending to  have,  no  business  relations  with  the  trader  reported,  was 
held  to  be  against  public  policy,  and  to  subject  the  reporter  to 
such  legal  penalties  as  any  jury  might  reasonably  see  fit  to  inflict. 
Since  this  decision,  several  cases  have  come  before  the  Courts  in 
other  States ;  but  in  all  of  these  the  dedication,  by  printing  and 
circulating  the  reports,  to  general  use,  of  these  estimates  of  traders' 
characters,  qualifications,  and  standing,  has  been  uniformly  held 
to  take  them  out  of  the  class  of  privileged  communications,  and  to 
leave  the  writers,  compilers,  and  utter ers  subject  to  ci\7il  and 
quasi-criminal  remedies  on  behalf  of  the  persons  affected  by  them. 

The  reason  of  this  rule  of  law  is  very  plain.  While  a  mer- 
chant should  be  allowed  to  employ  a  clerk  or  agent  to  learn  for 
his  own  use  the  standing  of  a  dealer  proposing  to  have  relations 
with  him,  it  would  be  unreasonable  and  impolitic  to  allow  the 
same  thing  to  be  done  on  the  mere  hypothesis  that  other  mer- 
chants at  some  future  time  might  have  like  reason  to  desire  in- 
formation. Such  a  purely  speculative  interest  in  a  future  possi- 
bility could  not  be  safely  conceded  to  give  a  present  immunity  to 
such  communications.  The  trader  reported  might  never  ask  for 
credit.  No  one,  in  that  event,  could  have  any  substantial  reason 
for  inquiry,  still  less  could  any  one  justify  a  purely  anticipative 
and  precautionary  inquiry  designed  for  general  circulation. 
Where  the  necessity  for  privileged  communication  ceases,  the  per- 
mission ceases  also.  But  even  if  one  or  a  dozen  merchants  real- 
ly desire  information  about  a  person  proposing  to  enter  into  busi- 
ness relations  with  them,  this  fact  gives  no  right  to  them,  or  any 
one  in  their  behalf,  to  place  the  information  in  such  a  manner 
that  it  might  reach  a  non-interested  person.  In  other  words,  the 
interest  must  be  a  present  and  existing  one  to  justify  any  com- 
munication designed  to  limit  or  curtail  the  chances  of  credit ;  and 
when  this  interest  is  satisfied,  the  qualified  privilege  lapses  again, 
only  to  be  revived  by  the  occurrence  of  a  new  justification  for  it. 

Judged  by  this  standard,  the  whole  Agency  System,  as  now 
conducted  by  anticipatory  inquiry  and  general  publication,  is 
practically  at  the  mercy  of  the  Courts  and  the  public.  It  is  pro- 
tected in  no  manner  by  the  subscription  system — a  device  intended 
to  create  an  agency  character  for  it — for  the  subscriber  has  no 


114  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

present  interest  in  any  name  in  the  book  ;  his  ever  having  a  future 
one  is  purely  problematical ;  and  it  is  certain  he  can  never  have 
any  in  eight  or  nine  hundred  thousand  whose  capital  is  guessed  at 
and  credit  standing  rated. 

When  the  Court  of  Appeals  determined  that  thirty-six  sub- 
scribers did  not  justify  the  printing  of  seventy-five  reports  in  1846, 
it  is  very  plain  that  thirty  thousand  could  not  authorize  the  use  of 
several  hundred  thousand  merchants'  and  traders'  names,  with 
u  estimates"  and  "  ratings"  picked  up  and  attached  by  the  agen- 
cies, for  sale  and  circulation  to  whoever  might  choose  to  pur- 
chase. It  is  quite  probable,  too,  that  the  contract  of  subscription 
itself  is  a  mere  nudum  pactum,  and  will  be  so  held  when  the 
question  shall  have  been  squarely  brought  up.  Fortunately  for 
the  agencies,  their  powers  of  coercion  have  been  so  great  in  other 
respects  that  they  have  had  no  reason  to  sue  for  subscriptions. 
They  make  no  bad  debts.  But  they  cannot  have  this  luck 
always.  Some  one  will  break  with  them  ;  and  we  shall  then  see 
whether  or  not  they  will  have  the  courage  to  go  into  Court  for 
redress.  Our  own  opinion  is  quite  decided  that  contracts  con- 
templating a  general  system  of  commercial  inquiry  and  the  pub- 
lication of  its  results,  without  the  consent  of  the  individuals  re- 
ported, and  wanting  the  element  of  a  subsisting  interest  in  the  re- 
ported parties,  as  traders  applying  for  credit,  are  void  on  the 
ground  of  public  policy,  and  will  be  so  declared.  "Whoever  shall 
start  the  issue  will  prove  a  public  benefactor.  As  we  have  shown 
in  other  places,  "  the  System"  has  a  holy  horror  of  Courts  of  Law 
and  Equity. 

Its  policy  has  therefore  been,  from  the  beginning,  to  keep 
out  of  Courts ;  to  retain  ownership  in  the  Reference  Books  sent 
out  and  recall  them,  so  that  they  could  not  furnish  proof  to  injur- 
ed parties  ;  and  to  supplement  the  dangerously-published  books  with 
a  privately  communicated  plan  of  Secret  Reports,  where  libel- 
lous matter  may  be  gathered  and  doled  out  with  greater  impunity. 
In  pursuance  of  this  policy  their  clerks  are  instructed  to  read  injuri- 
ous details  to  "  Principals  only,"  or  their  confidential  managers, 
meaning  heads  of  trading  houses  and  subscribers.  Their  contracts 
.are  drawn  so  as  to  make  their  clerks  and  informants  servants  of 
these  "  Principals,"  and  they  expressly  require  that  the  said  Prin- 
cipals should  not  have  any  remedy  against  them  for  insufficient,  de- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  115 

fective,  or  mistaken  information.  The  "  New  Agreement  "  of 
Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  is  a  fruitful  sample  of  this  ever-active  cau- 
tion and  desire  for  irresponsibility ;  and  the  conduct  of  all  the 
agencies  in  settling,  where  compromise  is  possible,  rather  than  liti- 
gating suits  for  damages,  is  a  further  proof  of  their  judicious  sus- 
ceptibility to  legal  terrors. 

For  the  purpose  of  securing  the  fullest  information  in  relation 
to  the  recent  or  existing  suits  against  the  agencies  in  the  Courts 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  we  lately  sent  letters  to  the  known 
plaintiffs  or  their  attorneys.  We  have  several  responses  in  our 
possession,  but  we  can  only  refer  to  a  few  of  them.  The  suit  of 
John  A.  Converse,  of  the  Canada  Cordage  Factory  and  Plaster 
Mills,  Montreal,  recently  instituted,  has  not  yet  come  to  trial', 
and  Mr.  Converse  does  not  know  how  soon  it  may,  but  he  is  con- 
fident of  a  verdict.  His  claim  is  for  damages  arising  from  the 
purchase  of  mercantile  paper  of  a  New-Orleans  merchant  on  the 
assurance  of  the  agency,  after  special  inquiry,  that  it  w~as  "per- 
"  f  ectly  good."  He  bought  the  paper,  and  placed  it  in  the  Collec- 
tion Department  of  the  same  agency  within  a  few  days.  Short- 
ly afterwards  the  Collection  Department  informed  him  that  it  was 
worthless,  and  had  been  so  at  a  time  antecedent  to  the  inquiry 
about  the  maker  and  the  assurance  of  the  agency  that  he  was  sol- 
vent and  in  good  credit  !  So  palpable  an  instance  of  agency  effort 
is  not  likely  to  reach  trial,  and  we  should  not  be  surprised  to  learn 
that,  as  it  produced  the  immediate  occasion  for  the  "  New  Agree- 
"  merit,"  it  had  been  settled  by  the  agency  paying  a  round  sum  in 
damages  and  compromise  to  Mr.  Converse.  ' 

In  response  to  a  letter  of  ours  of  the  28th  of  June,  1875,  Hon. 
Francis  Kernan,  of  Utica,  writes  that  the  action  for  libel  commenced 
by  his  firm  against  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  "  had  been  satisfactorily 
"  adjusted  without  trial,"  and  that  there  was  "  hence  nothing  in  the 
"  case  to  interest  the  public."  Mr.  Kernan  concedes  that  the 
agency  had  made  a  "  mistake  "  and  circulated  "  an  erroneous  ro- 
"  port  ;"  hence  we  are  at  a  loss  to  imagine  how  he  comes  to  the 
conclusion  that  a  "  satisfactory  settlement  "  leaves  nothing  to  in- 
terest the  public.  Is  it  of  no  interest  to  the  public  to  know 
that  the  agency  had  made  a  "  mistake"  ?  Is  it  of  none  that 
the  agency  had  circulated  wrong  information  ?  Is  it  a  matter  of 
indifference  that  the  agency  had  been  compelled  to  eat  its  words 


116  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

and  pay  $16,000  to  his  client?  Why,  what  would  the  learned 
Senator  have  the  public  interested  in,  if  not  the  standing 
danger  to  business  character  in  agency  "  mistakes,"  in  their  op- 
portunities of  circulating  "erroneous  reports,"  and  in  their  ea- 
gerness to  settle  privately  sooner  than  go>  before  a  jury  of  their 
countrymen  ?  For  our  own  part,  we  know  of  few  things  of  more 
actual  interest  to  the  business  public  than  just  such  facts.  Thev 
are  certainly  more  important  than  the  present  intimate  relations 
of  Mr.  Kernan's  law  partners  with  certain  of  the  agencies  in 
this  city  since  the  "  satisfactory  settlement "  aforesaid. 

From  Missouri,  where  a  Mr.  Kinealey  acted  as  attorney  in  an 
ra-gency  case  some  time  ago,  we  have  no  direct  information  of 
"the  present  condition  of  the  controversy,  but  the  silence  is  in- 
dicative of  a  settlement  after  the  Utica  fashion.  From  a  State 
Senator  and  late  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  we 
learn  that  an  active  antagonism  to  the  agency  institution  exists 
in  that  State,  and  we  conclude  from  his  letter  that,  however 
the  agencies  may  "  hush  up  "  the  inj  ured  by  free  payments, 
legislative  action  will  be  soon  taken  to  render  them  responsible 
in  a  wider  sense  or  keep  them  out  of  that  Commonwealth. 

An  instructive  instance  of  Agency  methods,  with  Attorneys 
nearer  home,  occurs  to  us,  and  may  be  mentioned.  A  gentleman 
on  Staten  Island,  some  time  ago,  requested  a  well-known  criminal 
lawyer  and  ex-Judge  to  sue  an  Agency  in  ISew-York.  The  legal 
gentleman  was  considerate  enough  to  inform  the  prospective  de- 
fendant, who  forthwith  took  measures  to  get  rid  of  the  evidence 
against  it  to  be  found  on  its'  Records.  No  suit  was  commenced, 
and  the  legal  gentleman  is  now  the  retained  counsel  of  the  pro- 
spective defendant,  we  are  apprised,  in  any  litigation  wrhich  may 
be  evoked  by  this  publication  ! 

A  chapter  on  the  legal  relations  of  the  Agencies  would  be  in- 
complete without  a  reference  to  the  late  quarrel,  by  Chancery  Suit, 
for  $50,000  and  Injunction,  between  themselves.  Dun,  Barlow 
&  Co.  claimed  that  Bradstreet  &  Son  had  "  pirated  "  some  of  their 
matter  in  Canada.  Bradstreet  denied  the  charge,  and  countered  by 
alleging  the  like  of  Dun  in  Pennsylvania  and  other  States.  On 
the  trial  it  appeared  that  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  had  invented  a  lot  of 
towns  and  villages  unknown  to  any  Geography  or  Census,  rated 
their  imaginary  merchants,  and  quietly  waited  for  their  competitor 


THE   SYSTEM  EXPOSED.  117 

to  appropriate  the  discovery.  They  even  swore  the  latter  did  so ; 
and  the  controversy  is  still  smouldering  in  Court,  neither  being 
anxious  to  fan  it  into  publicity. 

The  trick  was  conceived  in  the  best  manner,  and  showed  a 
mutual  appreciation  of  mutual  weakness. 

"When  the  dead  may  be  kept  alive  to  swell  a  Reference  Book, 
and  City  Directories  laid  under  contribution  without  compensa- 
tion, why,  indeed,  should  not  a  few  villages  and  towns  be  invented? 
The  device  was  also  the  least  harmful  of  any  practised.  Mer- 
chants who  never  existed  could  not  well  be  misrepresented. 
Traders  who  had  never  been  born  or  christened,  could  not  easily 
be  injured  in  credit  or  standing.  And  the  Agency  system,  for  the 
iirst  time  in  its  career,  was  sure  to  be  safe  and  certain  to  be  honest. 

Of  the  recently  commenced,  or  threatened,  litigations  against 
the  institution  it  is  not  timely  yet  to  write  at  any  length.  The 
terror  awakened  is  indicative  of  the  depths  to  which  they  must 
sink  into  Agency  methods  on  the  trials.  One  is  for  damages  for 
charging  .a  man  with  homicide  committed  in  self-defence  by  an- 
other !  A  second  is  for  charging  bigamy !  A  third  for  accusations 
involving  a  female's  chastity  !  A  fourth  is  by  a  partnership  for 
charging  forgery  on  one  of  its  members !  A  fifth — but  these  suf- 
fice to  show  that  the  Agencies .  are  about  to  meet  other  questions 
than  those  simply  relating  to  business  solvency,  and  must  defend 
their  pretension  to  discuss  and  assail  private  character,  under  the 
guise  of  giving  opinions  concerning  financial  responsibility. 

The  eagerness  of  the  Agencies  to  'prevent  legal  reprisals  was 
well  illustrated  to  the  writer,  in  an  attempt  to  dissuade  him  from 
this  publication,  by  a  proposition  to  purchase  his  silence.  The 
suggestion  was  met  with  contempt.  When  the  resource  failed, 
their  next  dodge  was  a  published  "  Card,"  proposing  to  every  one, 
with  whom  the  writer  had  communicated,  to  correct  mistakes  on 
application.  Redress  for  the  past,  however,  was  not  promised. 
Nothing  was  said  about  showing  to  applicants  the  private  reports 
upon  which  the  public  ratings  were  based,  nor  was  it  suggested 
that  the  names  of  informants  would  be  given  as  a  badge  of  good 
faith.  This  deceitful  "  Card  "  was  merely  a  "  stop-gap"  to  gain 
time,  while  an  investigation  was  in  progress,  to  learn  the  extent  of 
the  writer's  acquaintance  with  "  bottom  facts."  If  a  "  Card  "  were 
to  be  issued  now,  the  chances  are  altogether  in  favor  of  a  more  libe- 


118  THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

ral  array  of  terms  for  the  dissatisfied,  and  a  corresponding  reduc- 
tion in  subscription-rates. 

Perhaps  the  very  meanest  act  on  the  part  of  the  startled  traf- 
fickers in  the  good  name  of  so  many  of  our  first  citizens,  was  the 
malignant  manner  in  which  they  commenced  dismissing  or  shift- 
ing clerks  who  might  have  secured  special  acquaintance  with  the 
Black  Lists.  The  suspicion  of  being  suspected  was  enough.  The 
known  opportunity  to  learn  undesirable  knowledge  was  sufficient  to 
place  under  ban.  A  clearer  confession  of  conscious  weakness  was 
never  illustrated  by  a  pretentious  system,  in  the  instance  of  its  old- 
est and  most  devoted  servants. 

Besides  this  Carding,  dismissing,  and  shifting  process,  another 
precautionary  one  was  added.  A  secret  circular — the  trustiest 
weapon  in  the  rusty  catalogue  of  the  system — was  dispatched  to 
Branch  office  managers,  informing  them  that  the  writer  had  got 
great  store  of  facts  already,  and  might  be  in  league  with  the  clerks 
in  the  various  Branches  to  get  more.  Extreme  watchfulness  was  en- 
joined. Letters,  were  withheld  ;  post-marks  scrutinized ;  -any  symp- 
tom of  increased  assiduity  in  labor  was  held  of  bad  omen ;  and  such 
a  fluttering  generally  was  never  seen  before  since  Coriolanus  "  flut- 
tered the  Volsci  in  Coriole."  The  unfortunate  clerks  were  unde- 
cided whether  to  look  sad  or  cheerful ;  to  be  active  or  remiss  in 
duty ;  to  speak  or  not  to  speak  of  the  thunder  in  the  Agency  sky 
and  the  threatened  blinding  blaze  of  exposure.  All  these  precau- 
tions came  too  late.  The  persons  selected  by  the  writer  to  un- 
earth the  hidden  secrets  of  the  Charnel  House  had  closed  their 
labors  long  before  the  System  took  exceptional  precaution ;  and  the 
writer  intentionally  gave  the  first  alarm  himself  by  informing  in- 
jured subscribers  and  others,  by  letter,  that  they  could  learn  what 
was  said  of  them  in  the  Keports,  free  of  charge,  on  application  to 
him  at  the  Agency's  counters !  So  the  "  Secret  Circular"  was  just 
as  valueless  to  avert  exposure  as  the  "  Card"  had  been,  and  is  now 
serving  the  only  purpose  it  can  ever  subserve — namely,  to  show 
how  eager  the  Agency  Managers  were  to  trample  out  the  sparks 
which  threatened  their  tinder-box  institutions. 

If  this  was  the  general  conduct  of  one  Agency,  largely  referred 
to  in  these  pages,  we  can  find  no  greater  show  of  courage  and  self- 
confidence  in  the  other  two,  in  the  presence  of  the  threatened 
danger  to  their  system.  Bradstreet  &  Son  were  struck  dumb,  and 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  119 

dared  not  commit  themselves  to  any  statement  designed  to  show 
either  the  comparative  benefits  or  lesser  defects  of  their  establish- 
ment over  others  in  the  same  line.  They  were  willing  to  negotiate 
for  the  secret  transfer  of  a  competitor's  good-will  in  the  trade  of  a 
neighboring  city,  but  they  shrank  from  presenting  to  the  public 
any  claim  on  its  confidence  or  respect.  They  appear  to  have 
suffered  judgment  to  pass  against  them  by  default  sooner  than  go 
on  the  stand  or  introduce  a  witness.  The  older  and  larger  firm  of 
McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  met  the  emergency  with  a  bolder  front 
for  a  time,  and,  as  we  thought  and  hoped,  proposed  to  show  that, 
whatever  might  be  said  against  its  rivals'  manner  of  doing  business, 
it  had  no  occasion,  itself,  to  avoid  controversy,  not  arising  from  the 
Agency  System,  as  such.  In  this  spirit  it  favored  the  writer,  of  its 
own  motion,  with  a  pamphlet,  published  by  it  when  the  System 
was  less  understood  than  now,  and  courteously  solicited  inquiries 
from  him  in  reference  to  the  firm's  progress  and  painstaking.  We 
acted  on  the  suggestion  in  the  same  vein :  and  hoped,  at  last,  to  find 
some  one  who  could  show  effective  administration  on  even  a 
wrong  principle,  or  introduce  some  defence  for  the  principle  which 
had  not  occurred  to  us.  Our  disappointment  was  sincere  when  we 
found  even  this  firm  declined  to  commit  itself,  on  the  pretence 
that  facts  could  have  no  force  coming  from  them.  As  if  the  mere 
making  of  such  statement  to  us,  in  the  expectation  of  a  critical 
analysis,  were  not  a  straightforward  and  manly  thing,  certain  to  be 
favorably  thought  of  by  the  public !  This  determination,  how- 
ever, coming  after  a  proffer,  indicates  that  the  Commercial  Agency 
preferred  trusting  to  luck  to  showing  its  hand ;  and  was  just  as  un- 
willing to  have  the  facts  of  its  management  submitted,  over  its 
own  signature,  to  examination  and  comment,  as  the  younger  and 
less  generally  recognized  firm  of  J.  M.  Bradstreet  &  Son.  It 
matters  very  little,  however,  to  any  one  who  shall  read  this  work, 
and  particularly  the  chapter  containing  the  Comparative  Tables  of 
McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  and  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.,  whether  the 
former  firm  employs  more  "  help"  than  the  latter,  or  spends  more 
subscriptions,  in  arriving  at  the  self-confuting  statistics  with  which 
we  have  knocked  both  their  heads  together  and  demonstrated  their 
worse  than  inutility.  It  is  of  no  consequence,  whatever,  whether  the 
one  or  the  other  firm  employs  the  greater  number  of  hands  and 
the  more  experienced  managers ;  our  issue  is  with  the  System,  out 


120  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

of  which  both  extract  their  wealth  ;  and  so  long  as  the  System 
cannot  be  defended,  it  is  not  worth  while  to  enter  into  a  calculation 
for  the  purpose  of  determining  which  of  the  two  is  the  greater 
trifler  with  private  rights  or  public  patience. 

Between  eluding  the  light  of  controversy  and  creeping  or 
crawling  out  of  litigations  on  its  belly,  the  Agency  Business  may 
be  said  to  lead  a  reptile  life  of  secret  warfare  for  its  own  ends, 
but  of  cowardly  retreat  and  elusion  when  fairly  challenged.  It 
can  bite  and  sting  the  unconscious  and  unsuspecting ;  but  it  is 
wily  enough  to  risk  nothing  when  its  opponents  are  prepared.  If 
we  may  judge  from  the  past  history  of  Agencies,  they  will  pursue 
the  same  course  which  has  stood  them  in  good  stead  of  courage  or 
merit.  They  will  seek  to  avoid  responsibility  for  injuries  done,  by 
a  swift  show  of  deceitful  meekness  and  simulated  regret  at  their 
occurrence ;  they  will  compromise,  where  they  can,  at  the  last 
moment,  rather  than  try  actions  brought  against  them  for  libel ; 
they  will  lure  to  their  side  the  Attorneys  of  the  opponents,  at 
every  opportunity ;  they  will  watch  the  Journals  of  State  Legis- 
latures to  anticipate  legislation  inimical  to  their  pretensions  ; 
where  it  is  attempted,  they  will  call  in  the  "  Lobby  "  ;  they  will 
do  anything  and  everything,  except  enter,  voluntarily,  on  a  public 
discussion  or  a  legal  investigation. 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  121 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  AGENCIES'  ESTIMATES  COMPARED  AND  APPLIED  TO  INDI- 
VIDUALS IN  VARIOUS  CITIES— THE  RIDICULOUS  FIGURE  CUT 
BY  THE  "WISDOM-SELLERS." 

WE  come  now,  by  an  easy  and  natural  transition,  from  allega- 
tions relating  to  the  capacity  and  fitness  of  the  Agencies  to  advise 
in  business  risks,  to  the  proof  of  their  unfitness,  which  is  found  in 
their  own  works  and  under  their  own  signatures.  If  we  have, 
heretofore,  reasoned  wrongly  or  assailed  maliciously,  we  are 
about  to  be  confuted;  for  who  in  the  wrong  can  afford  to  be 
judged  by  the  evidence  of  his  adversary  ?  But  if  we  have  merely 
told  the  truth,  and  fairly  weighed  our  subject  pro  and  con.,  the 
Agencies  themselves  will  supply  us  with  incontrovertible  testi- 
mony. 

Of  the  three  Agencies  Bradstreets',  alone,  gives  no  capital  rat- 
ings, so  that  it  escapes,  for  the  time  being,  from  the  common  pil- 
lory of  comparison  into  which  we  press  the  other  two.  But  its 
competitors'  "  figures"  must  cast  a  deep  shadow  of  suspicion  over 
its  own  "  words,"  and  satisfy  any  reflecting  person  that  greater 
wariness  is  no  indication  of  equal  or  superior  knowledge,  but  .may 
be  a  sign  and  symbol  of  either  more  conscious  ignorance  or  more 
alert  self -conviction. 

Take  up,  reader,  the  July  (1875)  Reports  or  Reference  Books 
of  the  McKillop  &  Sprague  Co.  and  Dun,  Barlow  &  Co.  They 
are  the  latest  published  by  these  firms  at  the  hour  of  writing. 
They  should  be  the  most  perfect.  They  are  sold  for  high  prices. 
They  ought  to  be  worth  something.  They  are  ponderous  and  im- 
posing in  exterior  looks  and  interior  matter ;  so  that  they  ought 
to  serve,  or  be  able  to  serve,  some  useful  purpose  in  the  Agency 
economy.  They  pretend  to  more  practical  wisdom  than  the 
Tables  of  Moses  or  the  Ten  Commandments ;  for  those  merely 
give  moral  axioms,  and  these  claim  to  give  lessons  of  successful 
business  life  to  a  people  ten  times  as  numerous  as  the  Jews  at  their 


122  THE   COMMEECIAL   AGENCIES. 

best,  and  engaged  in  transactions  involving  ten  times  more  wealth 
than  the  treasures  of  Judea  or  Egypt.  They  are  the  ripe  result 
and  full  fruition  (it  is  said)  of  the  efforts  of  a  standing  army  of  cor- 
respondents numbered  by  the  50,000 ;  an  auxiliary  corps  of  muni- 
cipal sappers  and  miners  counting  well  up  in  the  hundreds ;  headed 
and  directed  by  the  inherited  and  attained  generalship  and  discre- 
tion of  a  staff  of  superb  appointments  and  magnificent  incomes, 
and  they  ought  to  be — well,  worth  more  than  waste  paper.  Alas! 
the  anti-climax.  These  ponderous  tomes,  out  of  whose  feculent 
growth  several  fortunes  have  been  made — out  of  whose  hoped-for 
continuance  several  more  fortunes  are  expected  to  be  made — are 
self-convicting  impostures.  These  mammoth  accumulations  of 
names  and  figures  are  discovered  to  be  neither  more  nor  less  than 
utensils  for  withdrawing  money  from  business  men's  pockets 
under  the  disguise  of  improving  their  understandings  and  facili- 
tating their  intercourse. 

Open  the  two  Books  at  the  State  of  "  Maryland,"  take  the  title 
"  Baltimore,"  and  for  greater  convenience,  while  picking  at  hazard 
from  the  roll  of  names  for  our  examples,  select  them  alphabeti- 
cally and  set  them  down  tabularly.  Having  chosen  the  names  for 
contrast,  note  the  ratings,  and  put  down  their  equivalents,  by  the 
respective  keys,  in  numerals.  As  both  Agencies  give  the  extremes 
of  capital  ratings,  let  us  take  their  lowest  and  their  highest,  each 
as  to  itself,  and  next  as  to  each  other,  and  contemplate  the  result. 
It  is  certainly  startling ;  and  if  the  Agencies  can  profitably  exist 
in  an  intelligent  community  after  the  exposure,  the  fault  will 
not  lie  at  our  door. 


THE   SYSTEM  EXPOSED. 


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144  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

IMPORTANT  LEGAL  DECISION— THE  McLEAN  CASE  IN  TORONTO- 
TEE  AGENCY .  PRINCIPLE  OF  NON-ACCOUNTABILITY  DENIED 
BY  A  CANADIAN  JURY— A  VERDICT  FOR  THE  PLAINTIFF  IN  A 
TEST  CASE. 

THE  Toronto  Globe  and  Toronto  Mail  of  December  8th  and 
9th,  1875,  contain  a  full  report  of  the  trial  of  an  action  brought 
by  one  Andrew  McLean  against  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.'s  Agency 
'  for  damages  sustained  in  consequence  of  relying  on  information 
given  to  him  by  their  clerks  and  servants.  The  gist  of  the  action 
goes,  of  course,  to  the  very  marrow  of  the  controversy  in  which 
we  are  engaged ;  and  the  thoroughness  of  the  contention  in  the 
Canadian  court,  the  strong  array  of  counsel  employed,  the  direct- 
ness of  the  testimony  on  the  question  of  negligence,  and  the  final 
result  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff  at  the  hands  of  the  jury,  render  an 
extended  notice  of  the  case  eminently  proper  in  these  pages.  In 
fact,  we  have  purposely  delayed  this  publication  so  as  to  spread 
this  corroborative  proof  of  our  arguments  of  principle  and  policy 
before  our  readers,  believing  that  nothing  could  be  more  acceptable 
or  convincing  than  a  legal  determination  of  a  plainly  test  case 
coming  after  our  own  proofs,  and  showing  their  legal,  as  well  as 
practical,  bearings. 

Mr.  Bethune  opened  the  case  for  plaintiff.  He  said  the  facts 
were  as  follow : 

Mr.  McLean  was  a  dealer  in  leather,  and  in  June  last  E.  M. 
Wilson,  who  at  that  time  was  doing  business  in  the  shoe  trade  on 
King  street,  called  at  plaintiffs  to  purchase  goods.  Mr.  McLean 
was  not  at  home,  but  on  his  return  he  had  sent  to  the  agency  of 
Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  to  get  a  report  of  "Wilson's  standing  and 
character  and  business.  The  information  was  to  the  effect  that 
Wilson  claimed  to  be  worth  $7000  ;  that  he  had  $5000  or  $6000 
in  his  business ;  that  he  was  doing  a  fair  business,  and  that  his 
credit  was  fair.  The  inquirer  as  to  this  information  resorted  to  it 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  145 

about  April,  it  seemed,  or  perhaps  an  earlier  date.  The  action 
was  fixed  on  the  alleged  duty  of  the  defendants  to  use  ordinary 
diligence  in  obtaining  information  according  to  their  contract,  and 
in  regard  to  the  standing  of  business  men,  and  diligently  and  faith- 
fully to  report  to  their  subscribers  the  result  of  such  inquiries. 
Mr.  McLean  had  been  in  the  habit  for  years  before  of  paying  his 
subscription,  and  the  plaintiff  claimed  that  he  had  a  right  to  the 
damages  he  asked  as  a  compensation  for  the  loss  he  had  sustained 
owing  to  the  incorrect  information  they  had  given  to  him.  The 
defendants,  Mr.  Bethune  said,  came  into  court,  and  were  prepared 
to  deny  everything — that  they  were  not  a  mercantile  agency,  and 
that  they  had  not  signed  the  agreement.  The  plaintiff  had  a  right 
to  compensation  here  just  as  much  as  if  he  had  engaged  a  private 
detective,  who  had  acted  in  negligence  of  his  orders ;  or  against  a 
physician  who  had  been  negligent  or  ignorant  of  his  engagement. 

Mr.  J.  II.  Cameron  argued  that  the  plaintiff  had  no  ground 
for  his  action,  quoting  authorities,  the  principal  of  which  were  the 
Statute  of  Frauds,  and  the  clause  relating  to  such  actions  in  Lord 
Tenterden's  Act,  and  the  Act  9,  George  IY. ;  Swan  vs.  Phillips, 
8  ;  Adolphus  vs.  Ellis,  4,  5,  7.  But  in  this  action,  Mr.  Cameron 
said,  they  would  have  to  confine  themselves  to  the  grounds  per- 
mitted in  the  4th  Sec.  of  the  Statute  of  Frauds,  or  Sec.  6  in  the 
Act  relating  to  promises  and  agreements,  and  in  which  the  mis- 
chief intended  to  be  guarded  against  was  sufficiently  pointed  out. 
The  plaintiff's  case,  as  they  had  heard  it,  could  not  be  sustained, 
as  there  had  been  no  written  contract,  and  he  would  ask  for  a  non- 
suit. 

Mr.  Bethune  said  the  only  case  he  would  offer  was  a  recent 
English  decision,  Lloyd  vs.  Pernywas,  an  action  against  the  Weekly 
Bankrupt  Gazette  for  not  supplying  information  in  agreement 
with  a  published  prospectus.  The  jury  had  found  that  a  contract 
had  been  made,  and  gave  the  plaintiff  damages.  lie  thought  the 
cases  to  which  Mr.  Cameron  had  referred  were  entirely  outside 
the  argument  here.  He  would  ask  his  Lordship  to  let  the  case  go 
to  the  jury,  although  he  would  have  preferred  the  matter  to  come 
up  by  demurrer. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Cameron  replied  that  the  case  cited  by  Mr.  Be- 
thune did  not  sustain  the  argument  or  form  a  sufficient  ground 
for  action. 


146  THE  COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

His  Lordship  decided  that  the  case  did  not  come  within  the 
Statute  of  Frauds,  and  the  question  of  whether  it  came  within  the 
scope  of  Lord  Tenterden's  Act  was  one  of  greater  difficulty,  but 
his  impression  was  that  it  did  not  apply  either.  His  Lordship  de- 
cided that  the  case  should  go  to  the  jury,  with  leave  to  Mr.  Came- 
ron to  move  generally. 

After  proving  by  other  witnesses  the  demand  for  information, 
its  receipt,  its  context  stating  that  "  Wilson  was  worth  $7000, 
and  in  good  local  credit,"  the  sale  and  delivery  of  goods  under 
this  information,  and  the  loss,  Mr.  Bethune  called  D.  McLean, 
who  testified : 

"I  am  in  the  leather  business  here;  I  have  been  in  business 
about  twelve  years ;  I  had  a  partner,  Mr.  Daly,  about  ten  years 
ago,  and  I  think  we  became  connected  with  the  Agency  about  the 
same  time;  I  had  a  book  called  a  subscriber's  book."  (A  book 
was  produced  and  identified  as  one  he  had  had.  A  smaller  book 
was  produced,  also  a  subscribers'  book,  which  he  had  had  when 
the  action  commenced.  These  books  contained  the  names  and 
ratings  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Bethune.) 

Witness. — We  rely  on  these  books,  and  have  them  at  hand 
for  use ;  I  paid  $75  a  year;  I  gave  instructions  to  obtain  informa- 
tion from  the  Agency,  and  a  day  or  two  after  I  saw  Wilson ;  I 
sold  him  goods  to  the  amount  of  $524.17,  on  the  usual  terms ;  I 
applied  for  no  other  information  except  that  I  got  from  the  de- 
fendants; it  was  so  explicit  and  so  strong  I  had  no  doubt  about 
it;  I  got  information  early  in  July  that  Wilson  had  cleared  out ; 
I  sent  my  bookkeeper  to  find  out  the  particulars,  and  found  there 
was  nothing  left ;  I  never  questioned  the  truth  of  the  information 
I  got  from  the  defendants ;  I  know  Mr.  Wiman  personally.* 

By  Mr.  M.  C.  Cameron.— I  knew  the  elder  Wilson,  who 
was  carrying  on  business  before  in  the  same  stand  as  his  son  after- 
wards ;  I  knew  as  a  fact  that  Wilson,  the  son,  carried  on  business 
in  the  same  place  as  his  father  had  done  before ;  I  have  been  con- 
nected for  about  ten  years  with  the  defendants,  and  have  made  a 
great  many  inquiries  in  that  time. 

Erastu*  Wiman. — I  am  one  of  the  defendants ;  I  live  in  ^Tew- 
York ;  we  do  our  business  here  by  deputy ;  our  deputy  here  is 
W.  C.  Mathews ;  there  are  twelve  or  thirteen  in  the  office ;  I  was 
not  here  in  June ;  I  have  been  told  that  one  of  our  clerks  gave 


THE   SYSTEM  EXPOSED.  147 

the  information  to  Mr.  McLean.  "We  give  the  information  we 
have ;  we  do  not  pretend  to  give  the  information  down  to  the  day 
we  give  it ;  we  generally  get  information  twice  a  year,  and  do  not 
consider  it  necessary  to  do  so  oftener  ;  we  make  up  the  reports  in 
the  spring  and  fall ;  the  April  report  was  gotten  probably  for  our 
London  (England)  office  for  the  subscribers  there. 

By  Mr.  J.  H.  Cameron. — They  had  the  book  with  the  rating 
of  March  in  this  year,  and  the  information  they  got  was  probably 
a  month  later. 

John  Gillies. — I  knew  Mr.  Wilson,  who  ran  away  July  last ; 
I  was  in  his  employ  about  two  or  three  weeks  in  June,  but  not 
when  he  went  away  ;  I  was  going  messages ;  he  had  not  much 
stock  ;  he  had  a  great  many  boxes,  but  they  were  empty  ;  he  was 
always  talking  about  getting  stock,  but  he  did  not  get  any ;  I  do 
not  think  he  was  doing  a  prosperous  trade,  as  I  did  not  see  much 
doing. 

By  Mr.  M.  C.  Cameron. — A  stranger  going  into  the  shop 
would  not  see  much  hanging  around ;  there  was  a  great  number 
of  small  boxes,  but  they  were  empty,  and  the  boxes  had  only  one 
or  two  pairs  in  them: 

William  Thompson,  a  boy  of  14. — I  was  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Wilson  ;  I  was  there  up  to  the  evening  before  he  went  away : 
I  took  some  goods  of  his  down  to  the  auction-room — to  Hender- 
son &  McFarlane's ;  I  could  not  tell  how  often  I  took  goods  down 
there ;  I  took  them  in  a  wheelbarrow ;  I  took  some  in  the  day- 
time and  some  in  the  morning ;  they  were  in  boxes ;  a  good 
many  people  came  in  but  they  did  not  buy  much, /"or  he  had  not 
much  to  sell. 

By  Mr.  M.  C.  Cameron.. — I  do  not  know  how  much  goods 
he  had  in  January  when  I  went  there;  I  knew  the  boxes  were 
empty,  for  I  used  to  put  them  upon  the  shelves. 

John  McFarlane. — 1  am  one  of  the  firm  of  Henderson  <fe 
McFarlane,  auctioneers ;  we  made  a  sale  of  boots  and  shoes  on  ac- 
count of  E.  M.  Wilson ;  they  were  advertised  as  bankrupt  stock ; 
they  were  sold  by  the  dozen  pairs,  and  he  gave  me  the  cost  price 
on  the  margin  of  my  sale-book. 

Mr.  M.  C.  Cameron  asked  what  this  evidence  amounted  to. 

Mr.  Bethune  said  they  expected  to  show  such  a  notorious  state 
of  matters,  that  other  people  knew,  if  the  defendants  did  not 


14-8  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

what  was  the  low  state  of  credit.  I  propose  to  shoAV  that  from 
March  he  had  sold  probably  up  to  $1000  worth  of  goods  at  auc- 
tion. We  will  want  to  go  further,  and  show  that  it  was  well 
known  that  Wilson  was  in  embarrassed  circumstances. 

Philip  Jacobi. — Was  a  dealer  in  shoe-findings  and  leather; 
knew  Wilson,  and  had  some  talk  last  winter  about  his  credit ;  it 
was  said  to  be  very  bad ;  the  talk  was  ever  since  he  (E.  M.  Wil- 
son) was  in  business  ;  I  would  not  have  trusted  him  ;  I  did  trust 
him  for  about  §55,  and  he  gave  a  check,  but  before  I  could  get  it 
cashed  he  was  gone;  I  am  a  subscriber  to  the  Dun-Wiman 
agency  ;  I  never  made  any  inquiry  there  ;  I  knew  enough  myself ; 
it  was  currently  reported  that  he  had  been  travelling  in  the  States 
with  a  troupe  of  negro  minstrels.  (On  cross-examination  the  wit- 
ness said  it  was  not  a  good  experience  for  business  to  have  been 
going  witli  a  minstrel  troupe.) 

Waiter  Beardmore,  wholesale  dealer  on  Front  street. — Wilson 
had  asked  for  a  credit  at  our  house,  and  had  ordered  a  quantity  of 
goods  which  I  refused  to  deliver ;  I  had  an  idea  that  he  would  not 
succeed  in  business ;  his  father  had  spoken  to  us  about  his  son  and 
regretted  that  he  was  so  unsteady,  but  hoped  now  he  was  goiug  to 
turn  over  a  new  leaf ;  I  had  spoken  to  several  parties  during  the 
spring,  and  there  was  an  impression  that  Wilson  was  not  in  good 
credit. 

Joseph  Pmestman. — I  am  manager  of  Brad  street's  agency  in 
this  city;  I  ascertained  E.  M.  Wilson's  credit  through  the  ordi- 
nary channels. 

Mr.  Cameron  objected  to  this  evidence  of  obtaining  informa- 
tion. It  might  have  been  gotten  by  some  person  who  was  evilly 
disposed  towards  Mr.  Wilson. 

Witness,  proceeding. — It  was  one  of  our  city  reporters  who 
got  the  information. 

Mr.  Cameron.— The  sources  may  be  all  wrong.  Mr.  Priestman 
tells  us  he  has  no  personal  knowledge  of  the  matter. 

Witness. — We  do  not  interchange  with  the  other  agencies  in 
the  city  ;  our  clerks  are  forbidden  to  have  any  communication  with 
Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.'s  office. 

Charles  Blair. — I  am  employed  by  Mr.  Blachford ;  I  was  also 
in  the  service  of  the  elder  Mr.  Wilson  for  about  twenty-five  years, 
and  in  the  employment  of  the,young  man  after  he  got  the  busi- 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  149 

ness ;  he  had  very  irregular  habits,  not  strictly  sober  nor  particu- 
lar in  his  company  ;  /  did  hear  last  winter  some  people  say  tJicy 
would  not  trust  him;  business  men  said  so;  he  was  not  an 
honorable  man. 

William  Rodgers. — Was  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Hay  last  sum- 
mer ;  Mr.  Hay  was  Wilson's  landlord  ;  I  went  into  the  store  after 
he  ran  away  and  found  a  lot  of  empty  boxes ;  there  might  have 
been  $15  or  $20  worth  of  stock  left. 

Mr.  Bethune  said  he  now  proposed  to  call  Mr.  McFarlane  to 
show  that  Wilson  had  been  in  the  habit  of  selling  parcels  of  goods 
below  cost.  He  had  a  double  proposition  to  demonstrate — the 
fact  that  Wilson  was  insolvent,  and  then  that  the  defendants 
might  have  known  this  fact. 

His  Lordship  said  there  could  be  no  difficulty  about  proving 
the  insolvency. 

Mr.  Cobley,  recalled. — There  was  nothing  said  of  the  date  up 
to  which  the  information  was  given ;  if  there  had  been  I  would 
have  made  a  note  of  it  in  my  report. 

Mr.  Donald,  recalled,  said  the  agent  told  him  they  never  gave 
dates ;  there  was  nothing  said  as  to  the  date  up  to  which  they  gave 
the  information. 

Mr.  Bethune. — Does  the  Agency  issue  a  change-list? 

Witness. — They  give  us  a  change-list  twice  a  week ;  they  will 
not  give  a  messenger  a  date,  but  they  put  the  date  of  the  state- 
ment on  the  papers  they  supply ;  if  they  send  a  report  a  week 
after  it  is  asked,  for  example,  they  will  send  the  date  up  to  which 
they  know  about  the  person,  but  if  I  was  getting  the  information 
they  would  not  tell  me  up  to  what  time  they  had  made  it  up. 

Mr.  Bethune  said  this  was  the  plaintiff's  case. 

Mr.  M.  C.  Cameron  said  the  plaintiif  has  failed  to  prove  that 
the  defendant  had  made  breach  of  contract,  as  they  had  given  the 
information  up  to  29th  April,  and  had  not  given  it  as  informa- 
tion up  to  June  10th.  Then  the  information  was  given  up  to  the 
time  when  it  was  stated,  and  it  did  not  therefore  appear  that  there 
had  been  any  breach. 

Mr.  Bethune  replied  that  the  contract  could  not  mean  to  be 
merely  the  information  they  had,  l>ut  they  agreed  to  give  with  rea- 
sonable correctness  at  a  given  time  or  a  particular  time,  and  not 
any  time,  as  it  might  be  Jive  or  six  years.  The  information  must 


150  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

be  of  some  use,  and  to  be  of  this  character  it  must  be  therefore  of 
such  dates  that  it  could  be  relied  on. 

Mr.  Bethune  asked  to  be  allowed  to  amend  the  declaration  to 
sustain  the  averment  that  the  report  of  the  29th  April  was  incor- 
rect, and  upon  the  merits.  Mr.  Bethune  said  the  report  following 
was  misleading.  This  report  was : 

"  E.  M.  Wilson,  Toronto,  June,  1875,  has  stock  about  $1000, 
formerly  of  "Wilson  &  Co.,  dissolved.  He  is  son  of  D.  Wilson, 
who  sold  out  to  E.  M.  Wilson  and  E.  A.  Philip.  Wilson  owns  no 
real  estate  ;  has  some  $5000  or  $6000  in  the  business  ;  he  claims 
to  be  worth  $7000 ;  character  and  habits  are  good ;  is  doing  a  fair 
trade ;  buys  mostly  American  goods ;  credit  good  locally." 

There  was  evidence  to  show*  that  as  far  back  as  January  the 
young  man's  habits  were  not  good,  and  that  his  business  was  not  at 
any  time  in  a  good  condition. 

Mr.  M.  C.  Cameron  said  no  evidence  had  been  offered  ot 
prove  that  E.  M.  Wilson  was  not  all  that  was  stated  in  April  when 
the  report  was  made. 

His  Lordship  decided  that  there  was  sufficient  to  go  to  the 
jury  on  the  question  of  Wilson's  standing  even  on  the  29th  of 
April. 

THE    DEFENCE. 

W.  T.  Pridham  testified  that  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Dun, 
Wiman  &  Co.  as  city  reporter  ;  remembered  getting  a  report  from 
Ernest  Wilson  ;  called  at  Mr.  Wilson's  store,  and  saw  a  person 
whom  he  believed  to  be  Mr.  Wilson  ;  inquired  from  others  as  to 
the  verification  of  Mr.  Wilson ;  speak  in  confidence  to  all  parties 
doing  business  with  us ;  believed  that  Mr.  Wilson  was  speaking 
'the  truth,  but  did  not  until  he  verified  it. 

By  Mr.  Betliune. — Have  been  for  the  past  five  years  engaged 
in  the  Mercantile  Agency  Company ;  was  an  occasional  reporter 
with  Murray,  Middlemiss  &  Co.,  Montreal ;  had  no  previous  ac- 
quaintance with  Mr.  Wilson  ;  knew  the  firm  was  about  dissolving, 
and  went  to  get  particulars ;  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was 
not  worth  more  than  from  $3000  to  $4000  ;  he  claimed  to  be 
worth  $4000  in  property  ;  did  not  ask  him  his  indebtedness  /  he 
may  have  had  some  cash  besides,  for  all  I  know ;  did  not  ask  them 
to  show  their  hooks  /  consulted  some  of  the  boot  and  shoe  manufac- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  151 

turers  of  the  city  ;  do  not  remember  whom- 1  consulted  /  Mr.  Hew- 
son  was  reporting  for  the  company  besides  myself  ;  have  no  know- 
ledge of  the  shoe  trade  •  know  nothing  about  Wilson's  habits. 

Edwin  Paid,  examined,  said — I  am  employed  in  Dun,  Wiman 
&  Co.'s ;  have  been  in  their  employ  for  eight  years ;  had  been 
city  reporter  in  Toronto  in  1865  ;  remember  getting  report  of  Mr. 
Wilson  in  that  year  ;  called  on  Mr.  Wilson,  who  said  business  was 
very  good  ;  had  no  reason  to  doubt  him  ;  made  further  inquiries 
among  the  wholesale  shoe  trade,  "  he  presumed  "/  was  making  re- 
ports of  other  houses  at  the  time ;  heard  nothing  against  his 
credit. 

By  Mr.  Bethune. — Was  not  the  regular  reporter  at  the  time ; 
performed  the  duties  of  city  reporter  for  three  months ;  had  a 
good  general  knowledge  of  the  trades  of  the  city ;  told  me  he 
had  a  stock  of  $10,000  worth,  but  could  not  say  ;  remember  hear- 
ing of  Wilson  running  away;  cannot  recall  the  name  of  the  per- 
son who  gave  me  the  information  •  had  no  reason  to  be  suspicious 
of  Wilson. 

Thomas  Houston,  examined,  stated  that  he  was  a  city  re- 
porter of  the  firm  of  Dun>  Wiman  &  Co. ;  made  the  proper  in- 
quiries ;  the  business  was  increasing  slowly,  but  from  other 
sources ;  the  stock  looked  full  in  the  shop  ;  it  was  the  leading 
trade  in  town. 

By  Mr.  Bethune. — David  Wilson  was  not  a  partner  at  the 
time  of  my  visit ;  the  firm  claimed  to  be  worth  over  $7000  ;  think 
he  claimed  himself  to  be  worth  $7000  ;  put  him  down  at  between 
$5000  and  $6000,  allowing  for  contingencies  /  don't  remember  whe- 
ther I  made  a  report  or  not  of  the  circumstance  of  Wilson  run- 
ning away. 

Henry  Moffatt. — I  am  a  reporter  for  John  McKillop  &  Co.  : 
a  similar  company  to  that  of  the  defendants' ;  I  made  a  report  of 
E.  M.  Wilson  on  the  7th  April,  1875  ;  the  result  of  my  inquiry 
was  favorable  ;  J  saw  E.  M.  Wilson  personally ;  I  looked  through 
the  stock  and  saw  the  insurance  papers  he  held,  and  he  gave  me  a 
statement  of  the  trade  he  was  doing,  the  insurance,  and  the  rental 
he  was  paying.  I  reported  him  worth  from  $4000  to  $5000,  and 
his  stock  worth  $7000 ;  I  made  inquiries  from  others ;  he  ap- 
peared to  be  doing  a  good  business,  and  his  stock  was  well  as- 
sorted. 


152  THE   COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 

By  Mr.  Bethune. — I  have  not  a  copy  of  the  report  I  made  ; 
I  spoke  to  Mr.  Jacobi  about  Wilson  in  September,  1874 ;  it  was 
the  firm  then  ;  I  reported  the  firm  worth  from  §7000  to  $10,000  ; 
on  the  April  report  I  thought  he  (Wilson)  had  a  stock  of  over 
$6000  ;  he  told  me  he  had  ;  I  could  not  swear  that  I  asked  what 
his  debts  were,  but  I  reported  him  worth  $4000  to  $5000. 

This  was  the  case. 

His  Lordship  remarked  that  he  would  hold  the  action  to  be 
one  of  breach  of  contract,  and  he  said  the  contract  would  be  that 
part  of  the  general  conditions  that  referred  to  the  obligation  of  the 
defendants  to  supply  information  to  the  subscribers.  His  Lord- 
ship asked  them  how  they  were  to  estimate  the  damages  under 
this  assumption. 

Mr.  Bethune  said  they  would  ask  just  as  much  as  they  had 
lost  by  the  sale  to  Wilson.  He  thought  they  should  recover  the 
whole  loss  or  merely  nominal  damages. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Cameron  said  he  was  prepared  to  show  that  the 
utmost  the  plaintiff  could  recover  were  nominal  damages.  In  the 
case  of  Kinghorn  vs.  Montreal  Telegraph  Co.,  18  U.  C.  Q.  B.,  he 
presented  a  case  where  his  contention  was  sustained,  and  that 
more  than  nominal  damages  could  not  be  assessed  ;  Stephenson  vs. 
Montreal  Telegraph  Co.,  16  U.  C.  Q.  B.,  was  a  similar  case,  and  in 
which  the  decision  was  that  the  plaintiff  could  not  recover  unless 
there  was  fraud  in  the  delay  by  the  Company's  official  delivering 
the  message.  Mr.  Cameron  said  also  there  was  no  breach  of  the 
contract.  He  asked  again  if  the  plaintiff  had  any  case  to  go  to 
the  jury. 

His  Lordship  answered  that  he  thought  it  would  be  most 
proper  to  allow  the  case  to  go  to  the  jury.  There  would  be  the 
single  issue  of  the  breach  of  contract,  but  he  was  not  at  all  sure 
whether  Mr.  McLean  had  acted  with,  reasonable  care.  He  said  it 
would  be  better  to  place  the  matter  in  a  specific  manner  before 
the  jury  by  asking  their  answers  to  the  two  questions  : 

1.  Did  the  defendants,  who  are  persons  engaged  in  the  Mer- 
cantile Agency  business,  furnish  to  the  best  of  their  ability  infor- 
mation to  the  plaintiff  of  the  standing  and  credit  of  Ernest  M. 
Wilson  ? 

2.  Did  the  plaintiff  act  as  an  ordinarily  prudent  man  in  not 
making  any  further  inquiries  in  view  of  the  fact  that  Wilson  re- 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  153 

sided  and  carried  on  business  in  his  immediate  neighborhood,  and 
was  well  known  in  the  city,  and  that  the  goods  were  not  furnished 
for  a  fortnight  after  the  application  ? 

Mr.  J.  II.  Cameron  addressed  the  jury,  remarking  that  they 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  figures,  as  that,  by  arrangement 
between  counsel,  had  been  withdrawn  from  the  question.  But 
they  would  have  to  decide  upon  a  matter  that  was  of  as  great 
consequence  to  the  mercantile  agencies  as  to  the  public.  And 
although  these  agencies  had  been  in  existence  for  about  forty 
years,  there  was  not  a  case  reported  in  the  courts  that  could  be 
called  an  example,  except  the  one  cited  by  Mr.  Beth une,  which 
was  the  English  case  he  mentioned.  Mr.  Cameron  said  this  case 
was  not  a  contract  of  guarantee.  The  question,  Did  the  defen- 
dants give  information  to  the  best  of  their  ability?  was  what  they 
would  have  to  consider.  After  a  recapitulation  of  the  evidence 
and  a  statement  of  the  case,  Mr.  Cameron  laid  down  the  proposi- 
tion that  if  the  Company  gave  all  the  information  they  possessed 
at  the  time,  they  had  done  their  duty  ;  and  he  said  the  Company 
had  done  this.  Further,  Mr.  Cameron  said  it  could  not  be  ex- 
pected that  these  agencies  should  be  held  to  such  a  strict  account 
as  was  sought  to  be  imposed  on  them  in  this  case,  and  that  all  that 
could  be  expected  of  them  was  a  fair  report  of  the  individual  at 
the  moment  when  they  were  asked. 

Mr.  Bethune,  addressing  the  jury,  observed  that  many 
people  thought  these  agencies  were  not  advantageous  to  trade,  and 
it  was  a  question  on  which  the  mercantile  public  were  divided 
whether  they  should  be  tolerated  at  all. 

The  law  would  not  look  at  the  question  of  consideration, 
based  upon  the  amount  paid  by  the  plaintiff;  illustrated  by  the 
example  of  an  accident  insurance  policy,  where,  a  mere  trifle 
would  yield  a  large  sum  back  in  case  of  accident.  That  they  have 
not  been  sued  before  is  no  argument  not  to  deal  fairly  with  the 
question.  That,  if  they  escape  scot-free  now,  will  be  an  argument 
and  an  inducement  for,  perhaps,  greater  carelessness  than  hereto- 
fore, and  greater  risk  to  the  subscribers.  All  the  plaintiff  asked 
the  defendants  to  perform  was  to  give  a  fair  report.  It  was  easy 
to  see  the  power  and  facility  the  company  possessed.  It  was  in  the 
power  of  this  company  to  puff  any  man,  to  rate  him  highly,  and 
place  him  above  suspicion ;  and  it  was  in  their  power  also  to  blast 


154  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

any  man's  prospects  and  reputation.  In  this  case  the  first  report  they 
made  of  Wilson  was  not  correct,  if  almost  he  had  been  the  most 
honest  man  in  the  community,  after  all  the  opportunities  they 
had  of  making  inquiries.  It  was  said  that  Mr.  McLean  might 
have  made  inquiries  himself,  but  it  was  not  to  be  supposed  that 
Mr.  McLean  would  have  been  satisfied  that  he  could  know,  or  get 
to  know,  in  any  way,  as  much  about  Wilson's  business  by  any  in- 
quiries he  could  make  as  the  Agency,  with  all  their  means  of  pro- 
moting inquiries,  could  do.  Mr.  Bethune  proceeded  to  show  the 
amount  of  stock  that  Wilson  had  received  and  owned  at  any  time, 
and  -all  the  stock  he  had  been  possessed  of,  and  to  prove  that  he 
could  not  have  had  the  quantity  of  stock  that  was  credited  to  him 
by  the  Agency.  The  operations  of  the  reporters  of  the  Agency 
were  criticised  as  not  being  of  the  sort  that  entitled  them  to  confi- 
dence. There  were  no  particular  inquiries,  and  no  verification  of 
the  answers  given  by  any  one  person  by  answers  of  another.  Mr. 
Bethune  asked  the  jury  to  infer  that  the  reporters  had  forgotten 
all  about  the  matter,  and  that  really  no  inquiries  had  been  made 
at  all.  The  entries  in  the  Agency  book,  too,  were  not  assuring  as 
far  as  they  could' be  ascertained,  either  for  their  order  or  for  their 
correctness.  It  appeared,  indeed,  that  the  Agency  had  not  made 
their  inquiries  at  the  very  places  where  they  might  have  learned 
most,  and  where  common-sense  would  have  pointed  as  the  best 
sources  of  information.  Wilson's  stock  and  property  in  April 
could  not  exceed  a  value  of  $4000.  It  was  shown  that  he  had  a 
balance  at  the  bank  indeed,  but  the  amount  at  the  bank  was  made 
by  the  sales  made  at  auction.  *  The  company  said  they  did  not 
know  that  he  was  selling  off  the  stock  at  a  sacrifice  in  an  auction- 
room  ;  but  a  number  of  private  persons,  merchants  in  the  city, 
knew  all  about  this.  It  was  the  blame  of  the  servants  of  the 
company ;  but  it  should  not  be  asked  that  Mr.  McLean  should 
suffer  for  these  servants'  mistakes.  And  when,  two  weeks  after 
he  got  a  certification  of  the  character  and  standing  of  this  man 
Wilson,  Mr.  McLean  gave  him  a  credit,  a  few  days  only  before  he 
ran  away,  it  was  surely  not  too  much  to  expect  that  the  defend- 
ants should  compensate  him  for  the  loss  he  had  sustained  by  their 
negligence.  "Then,  if  the  defendants  repudiated  their  contract  in 
this  case,  a  certain  result  would  be  that  the  public  M'ould  lose  con- 
fidence in  them,  and  require  to  make  a  safer  contract  with  them, 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  155 

and  require  greater  certainty  in  the  information  they  pretend  to 
give.  For  it  was  clear  that  the  representations  made  upon  Wil- 
son's character  and  business  were  not  true.  He  would  repeat  that 
the  value  of  these  institutions  was  the  degree  of  care  given  to  the 
information  they  professed  to  afford  to  their  subscribers.  He 
closed  by  asking  a  verdict  for  the  plaintiff  on  both  the  questions 
that  were  submitted  to  them.  The  whole  system  of  mercantile 
agency  was  to  day  on  its  trial,  and  their  verdict  would  go  far  to 
enforce  a  closer  inspection  by  the  reporters  and  officials  in  these 
offices.  If  they  allowed  this  to  go  it  would  be  a  step  towards 
making  these  agencies  mere  offices  for  blackmailing  the  commer- 
cial community. 

His  Lordship  said  the  case  involved  a  number  of  questions 
of  difficulty,  but  they  had  been  instructed  in  those  that  were  to 
be  decided  by  them;  He  pointed  out  what  the  duties  of  the  de- 
fendants were  which  they  had  undertaken  to  execute.  And  it 
was  only  just  to  mention,  too,  that  Wilson  had  not  been  dealing 
much  with  any  of  the  wholesale  merchants  here.  He  made  these 
remarks  as  to  the  standing  of  Wilson  and  the  facility  the  defend- 
ants had  of  making  an  accurate  report  of  Wilson's  business.  This 
report,  His  Lordship  did  not  hesitate  to  say,  as  his  opinion,  was 
not  correct ;  and  he  thought  there  were  still  avenues  of  informa- 
tion by  which  a  more  correct  report  might  have  been  obtained  by 
the  defendants,  and,  if  a  knowledge  of  the  sales  at  auction  had 
been  in  possession  of  the  company,  they  would  certainly  have  been 
at  fault  if  they  had  not  reported  that  knowledge  to  Mr.  McLean. 
His  Lordship  read  passages  of  the  evidence  to  strengthen  the  idea 
that  there  had  been  a  remissness  in  the  company  in  obtaining  in- 
formation of  the  commercial  value  of  E.  M.  Wilson,  and  in  not 
noticing  that  he  possessed  no  aptitude  for  business.  The  evidence 
of  the  employees  was  not  satisfactory;  they  could  not  tell  how 
they  got  their  information  exactly,  with  the  exception  of  one  who 
said  he  had  communicated  with  Mr.  Jacobi.  And  if  they  took 
their  information  from  Wilson's  communication  alone,  they  were 
not  doing  all  their  duty.  McKillop's  reporter  gave  evidence,  it 
had  to  be  remembered,  similar  to  that  of  the  defendants,  but  the 
jury  would  consider  whether  he  had  made  sufficient  inquiries  as 
well,  before  they  would  determine  on  its  value.  His  Lordship 
then  glanced  at  the  question  of  whether  the  plaintiff  had  acted 


156  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

with  ordinary  prudence  in  accepting  the  information  and  acting 
on  it  without  making  any  inquiries  on  his  own  part. 

The  jury  then  retired. 

The  jury  returned,  after  a  short  ahseiice,  with  a  verdict  for 
the  plaintiff,  being  an  answer  to  the  first  question  in  the  negative, 
and  to  the  second  question  in  the  affirmative.  His  Lordship  re- 
corded a  verdict  for  the  amount  claimed. 

The  local  opinion  on  this  verdict  is  also  of  great  importance. 
We  append  two  editorials  from  the  Globe  and  Mail  respectively 
under  date  December  9th,  1875. 

[Daily  Globe— Toronto.] 
MCLEAN    VS.    DUN,    WIMAN    &    CO. 

The  verdict  rendered  in  this  case  yesterday  by  a  petty  jury  in 
the  Toronto  Assize  Court  appears  to  strike  a  very,  serious  blow  at 
the  existence  of  the  commercial  associations  known  as  MERCANTILE 
AGENCIES.  Mr.  McLean,  a  highly  respectable  and  extensive  dealer 
in  leather,  in  this  city,  was  applied  to  in  April  last  by  Mr.  E.  M. 
Wilson,  then  a  shoe-dealer  in  King  street,  to  supply  him  (Wilson) 
with  a  quantity  of  leather.  Mr.  McLean  was  a  subscriber  to  the  Mer- 
cantile Agency  of  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.,  and  entitled  to  obtain  from 
them  from  time  to  time  reports  as  to  the  solvency  of  parties  pur- 
chasing from  them  on  credit,  for  the  consideration  of  seventy-five 
dollars  per  annum.  Mr.  McLean  accordingly  applied  to  Dun, 
Wiman  &  Co.  for  a  report  as  to  the  standing  of  Mr.  Wilson ;  and, 
having  received  a  favorable  reply,  sold  $500  worth  of  leather,  or 
thereby,  to  that  person.  In  July  following  Wilson  absconded, 
and  Mr.  McLean  lost  his  money.  Mr.  McLean  thereupon  com- 
menced suit  against  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  for  the  amount  of  his 
loss,  not  alleging  for  a  moment  any  want  of  good  faith  on  the 
part  of  the  agency,  or  that  different  information  from  that  given 
was  in  possession  of  the  Agency  or  its  employees,  but  simply  on 
the  ground  that  its  report  was  erroneous,  and  that  the  Agency  had 
not  used  due  diligence  in  obtaining  information.  The  jury  sus- 
tained Mr.  McLean  in  this  pretension,  and  gave  a  verdict  against 
Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  for  the  full  amount  of  his  loss,  $500. 

In  the  examination  of  witnesses  it  was  brought  out  that  some 
parties  were  aware,  previous  to  Wilson's  absconding,  that  he  was 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  157 

not  worthy  of  credit ;  and  that  if  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  had  gone 
to  certain  parties  for  information,  they  would  have  learned  much 
more  about  him  than  they  told  to  Mr.  McLean. 

-Z  $•  *  -::-  *  v>  «  -x- 

[The  Mail— Toronto.] 
LIABILITY    OF    MERCANTILE   AGENCIES. 

The  case  of  McLean  vs.  Dun,  "Wiman  &  Co.,  which  has  occu- 
pied the  attention  of  the  Assize  Court  for  the  last  two  days,  was 
concluded  yesterday :  a  verdict  being  returned  for  the  plaintiff  for 
the  amount  of  damages  claimed,,  subject  to  certain  considerations 
reserve*  for  the  full  Court.  Two  questions  were  left  to  the  jury, 
as  will  be  seen  in  our  report  of  the  case,  and  both  were  answered 
in  favor  of  the  plaintiff.  The  jury  in  point  of  fact  have  deter- 
mined that  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  did  not  use  due  diligence  when 
they  gave  a  favorable  report  of  Wilson's  standing,  and  that  Mr. 
McLean  was  perfectly  justified  in  relying  solely  on  the  Company's 
statement.  The  mercantile  community  will  be  glad  to  hear  that 
even  thus  far  the  case  is  in  favor  of  their  rights.  They  are 
dragooned  into  subscribing  to  these  agencies,  and  the  least  they 
can  expect  is  that  the  information  received  is  so  accurate  that  it 
may  be  safely  acted  on.  The  Court  above  will  have  to  decide 
whether  the  plaintiff  can  really  recover  more  than  nominal 
damages,  and  even  if  the  so-called  Mercantile  Agency  should 
succeed  in  escaping  the  heavier  penalty,  it  and  kindred  institu- 
tions will  have  been  taught  a  useful  lesson.  The  popularity  of 
these  agencies  is  on  tlie  wane,  and  merchants  are  beginning  to 
quote  the  long  list  of  failures  which  have  occurred  in  direct 
contradiction  of  agencies'  reports  and  hieroglyphics.  There  is 
something  un-British  and.  repugnant  to  most  right-thinking  men 
in  a  system  of  espionage  that  has  •  become  a  huge  Mercantile 
Inquisition,  by  no  means  infallible,  and,  it  now  appears,  not  always 
very  careful  of  the  way  in  which  it  conducts  its  inquiries.  .As  a 
matter  of  fact,  the  cases  are  few  in  which  private  inquiry  will  not 
discover  all  a  merchant  wants  to  know  of  a  purchaser  seeking 
credit.  New  customers  are  bought  at  too  high  a  price  whose 
standing  has  to  be  certified  by  an  Agency.  The  system  of  credit 
may  thereby  be  infinitely  extended  ;  but  old  firms  will  tell  you-  a 
much  safer  business  was  done  before  this  new-fangled  system  came 


158  THE  ^COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

into  operation.  Without  impugning  the  bona  fides  of  this  parti- 
cular Agency,  we  are  of  opinion  that  collectively  quite  as  much 
harm  as  good  has  resulted  to  those  merchants  who  have  been 
satisfied  to  take  a  customer's  "rating"  as  conclusive  evidence  of 
his  worth.  Of  some  other  associations  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  enlightening  the  trading  public  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that 
they  are  merely  snares  and  delusions  got  up  for  the  profit  of 
then-  promoters. 

The  great  significance  of  this  case  justifies  us  in  calling  special 
attention  to  two  or  three  points  not  dwelt  on  at  any  length  by 
counsel.  McLean  was  a  subscriber  for  ten  years,  at  the  yearly 
cost  of  $75.  He  had,  therefore,  paid  $750  to  the  Agencies 
when  he  lost  his  bill  against  Wilson,  in  addition.  This  is  not  a 
consolatory  or  exceptional  experience. 

The  McKillop  tk  Sprague  Co.  is  caught  in  the  legal  trap  as 
well  as  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  Neither  knew  the  true  condition  of 
Wilson  when  it  reported  him ;  their  clerks  did  not  even  ask  him 
how  much  he  owed ;  they  failed  to  examine  his  books  or  look  into 
his  empty  boxes,  and  a  jury,  in  finding  Dun,  Wiman  &  Co.  guilty 
of  gross  negligence,  has  really  passed  on  evidence  sufficient,  if  un- 
explained, to  mulct  the  rival  Agency  if  the  contract  had  been 
with  it.  The  "  institutions,"  as  they  like  to  term  themselves,  may 
not  allow  their  clerks  to  associate  with  each  other  or  exchange 
opinions :  but  it  is  quite  apparent  that  the  young  gentlemen  of 
both  establishments  are  very  much  alike  in  industry  and  business 
acumen. 

Whatever  way  we  look  at  this  McLean  case,  its  effect  cannot  be 
exaggerated.  The  System,  instead  of  compromising  it  at  the  start 
according  to  custom,  relied  on  achieving  a  success  on  account  of 
the  two  special  features — McLean's  propinquity  to  the  buyer  and 
the  buyer's  fraudulent  absconding.  The  former  fact,  it  was  hoped, 
would  raise  the  presumption  of  contributive  negligence  in 
McLean ;  the  latter,  as  the  result  of  mala,  fides  rather  than  finan- 
cial insolvency  alone,  was  relied  on  to  relieve  against  mere  contract 
damages.  Had  the  Agency  any  doubt  whatever  of  victory  it 
would  willingly  have  paid  up ;  so  that  the  result  may  be  taken  as 
a -success  over  them  in  their  own  selected  field,  and  against  large 
and  unusual  legal  odds. 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  159 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  BEST  MEANS  OF  REDUCING  THE  DANGER  FROM  THE  IN- 
QUISITION—CORRESPONDENTS  BEHIND  A  MASK— WHAT  MER- 
CHANTS THINK  OF  THE  NEED  OF  CHANGE— FREE  TALKERS 
ABOUT  OTHERS  SURE  TO  BE  BROUGHT  TO  TASK. 

WE  come  to  the  question,  How  shall  the  opposition  to  the 
Agency  system  find  full,  effective,  and  fitting  expression  ? 

Half  the  force  of  the  agitation  against  an  evil — we  had  almost 
said  all — is  found  in  the  fact  that  its  movers  have  not  alone  argu- 
ments to  convince,  but  also  measures  of  correction  to  advance. 
The  practical  value  of  any  and  every  opposition  to  the  Agency 
system  must  submit  to  this  test ;  and  if,  while  the  wrongs  com- 
mitted by  the  system  are  conceded,  no  method  be  proposed  to  re- 
move them,  or,  wanting  method,  there  be  no  independent  means 
adopted  for  their  repression,  it  will  matter  little,  in  the  end, 
whether  the  whole  scheme  of  traffic  in  men's  reputations  for  per- 
sonal benefit  shall  have  been  approved  or  reprobated  by  the  public. 
In  this  connection,  as  in  most  others,  faith  without  works  avails 
not ;  and  he  is  the  best  reformer  who,  having  demonstrated  the 
necessity  of  reform,  goes  on  and  illustrates  the  most  direct  means 
of  its  accomplishment. 

Our  FIRST  proposition  is  a  plain  one.  No  honest  man  can 
support  the  system  believing  it  to  be  noxious  and  dangerous. 
Our  SECOND  one  is  a  natural  corollary  to  the  other.  No  sincere 
man  can,  having  the  same  belief,  omit  to  become  actively  antago- 
nistic to  it.  What,  then,  should  a  sincere  and  honest  opponent  .of 
the  system  do  to  illustrate  his  faith  and  bring  forth  fruit  ? 

In  the  first  place,  such  a  man  should  cease  using  the  system  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment,  or  least  (if  we  must  adapt  our 
sense  of  duty  to  the  average  of  business  moralities)  at  the  close  of 
his  present  subscription.  Even  if  he  avoid  selling  on  its  estimates, 
he  owes  it  to  himself,  as  a  conscientious  man,  to  withdraw  his  sup- 
port from  an  institution  on  which  his  own  opinion  has  already 


160  THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

passed  judgment.  If  lie  continue  paying  for  pretended  informa- 
tion on  which  he  cannot  or  does  not  rely,  he  is  merely  lending  his 
name  and  means  to  the  perpetuation  of  an  exacting  and  unscrupu- 
lous combination  against  the  purses  and  reputations  of  other  men, 
and  thereby  making  himself  a  party  to  whatever  of  wrong  or  in- 
justice may  be  done  to  them.  He  may  be  satisfied,  for  peace's  sake 
or  a  hoped-for  benefit,  to  stand  a  yearly  loss  of  subscription  ;  but 
does  he  not  owe  something  to  the  class  to  which  he  belongs,  and 
should  he  not  be  ready  to  resent,  reprove,  and  repress  any  and 
every  flagrant  assault  on  honorable  trading  so  far,  at  least,  as  his 
own  contributive  example  may  go?  We  lay  it  down  as  a  true  rule 
of  commercial  honor,  that  no  one  should  countenance  in  another 
acts  which  he  would  not  perform  himself. 

Besides  refusing  to  bear  the  yearly  tax  of  subscription  and 
Reference  Book  buying,  our  merchants  should  studiously  avoid 
aiding  the  parasitic  appliances  of  Collection  Bureaux  added  to 
the  system,  arid  acting  as  feeders  to  it.  Even  if  the  classification 
of  a  trader's  doubtful  debts  for  purposes  of  collection  and  turning 
over  to  the  Agencies  had  no  depreciatory  effect  on  the  trader's 
own  standing  as  a  careful  credit-giver,  he  must  see,  in  A  moment, 
that  the  Agencies'  attorneys  are  not  apt  to  be  efficient,  in  any  liti- 
gated cases,  against  the  generally  more  competent  lawyers  who 
will  be  found  retained  by  the  defence.  Is  it  to  be  believed  that 
the  Agencies'  creature  will  exert  all  his  energies  against  an  Agency 
supporter,  or  that  the  Agencies  would  encourage  him  to  press  col- 
lections for  a  small  percentage  when  the  withdrawal  of  subscrip- 
tions may  reasonably  be  expected  to  induce  a  much  greater  loss 
than  any  possible  profit  so  obtained?  But  even  if  his  utmost 
ability  were  seriously  exerted,  what  security  can  a  creditor  have 
for  prompt  returns  from  a  person  capable  of  the  personal  mean- 
ness of  giving  up  his  time  to  double  service  as  an  unpaid  spy  and 
a,  ^oorly-paid  lawyer  ?  If  he  exacted  a  salary  from  the  Agencies, 
even  that  fact  would  indicate  a  certain  amount  of  moral  stamina, 
and  a  certain  respect  for  his  professional  calling  ;  but,  being  either 
too  weak  to  impose  terms,  or  too  eager,  from  want,  to  secure  even 
a  pittance  of  agreed  compensation,  he  is  certainly  more  amenable 
to  temptation  than  his  more  independent  and  self-asserting 
brethren. 

A  THIKD  means  of  decreasing  the  evil  effects  of  the  Agencies 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  161 

is  the  very  simple  one  of  not  applying  to  them  for  information. 
We  have  shown  that,  according  to  their  own  statements,  they  can- 
not really  tell  whether  or  not  any  single  trader  is  good  for  any 
single  transaction.  Of  what  service,  then,  can  any  statement  of  his 
affairs  prove  which  does  not  go  to  the  extent  of  justifying  a  sin- 
gle bargain  f  Indeed,  must  it  not  be  more  calculated  to  lull  use- 
ful inquiry  than  to  suggest  caution  ?  If  a  trader  exercise  ordinary 
prudence  he  can  form  a  fresh  opinion  himself  based  on  the  most 
recent  available  information ;  but  if  he  trust  ever  so  little  to 
Agency  reports,  he  is  sure  to  judge  from  evidence  incoherent  in 
itself,  in  almost  every  instance,  of  dubious  age,  and  of  dubious 
origin.  Of  what  value,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  is  an  opinion  six 
months  old  ?  Why  should  any  man  part  with  his  goods  on  the 
strength  of  it,  when  the  Agencies  confess  their  own  want  of  confi- 
dence in  it  by  stipulating  against  any  liability  for  imparting  it  ? 
But  over  and  above  all  these  considerations,  have  we  not  shown 
that  the  system  is  the  natural  parent  of  constantly-aggravating  errors 
and  misreports  ? 

A  FOURTH  means  of  lessening  the  ill  effects  of  the  Agencies 
would  be  persistent  refusal  to  supply  them  with  unpaid-for  infor- 
mation. "Why  should  not  a  merchant  impart  whatever  he  may 
find  necessary  or  useful  directly  to  the  person  or  persons  from 
whom  he  seeks  credit  f  Already  this  is  done  in  the  vast  majority 
of  cases ;  and  the  credit-giver  is  accustomed  to  write  down  the 
statement  or  to  carry  it  in  his  mind.  He  can  have  it  verified  or 
confuted  by  telegraph  or  letter  within  a  short  time — within  as 
short  or  shorter  time  than  the  Agencies.  They  must  inquire 
specially,  at  his  special  expense,  if  he  insist  on  the  latest  attainable 
rumors.  They  must  deal  with  a  volunteer  unpaid  correspondent 
who  insists  on  keeping  behind  a  mask.  The  merchant,  on  the 
other  hand,  can  inquire  from  other  merchants  of  known  standing, 
whose  answers  would  be  infinitely  preferable,  and  whose  state- 
ments, if  knowingly  erroneous  and  not  coupled  with  reservations, 
might  even  be  followed  by  legal  recourse,  on  fit  occasion.  Besides 
insuring  known  channels  of  information,  this  practice,  if  generally 
adopted,  would  also  leave  the  whole  non-credit  seeking  mass  of 
traders  free  from  even  the  possibility  of  being  injured  in  character 
or  standing  within  their  self-limited  lines  and  methods  of  trade. 
The  credit-seeker  would  not  be,  could  not  be,  aware  of  the  course 


12  THE  COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 

of  inquiry  beforehand,  and  therefore  could  not  anticipate  it  He 
might  rely  on  a  good  report  from  his  neighborhood  if  he  had 
earned  a  good  reputation.  If  he  had  not  earned  it,  or  the  matter 
were  in  doubt,  he  could  personally  convince  the  credit-giver  of  any 
injustice  done  him,  and  indicate  the  direction  from  which  inju- 
rious remark®  might  hare,  or  might  be  expected  to  have,  come. 
In  every  event,  he  would  have  the  double  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  his  business  affairs  were  only  laid  bare  to  a  person  rightfully 
interested  in  them,  and  that  he  merely  had  one  or  more  known 
merchants  to  satisfy  instead  of  the  same  number  supplemented  by 
the  loose  guesses  of  a  secret  series  of  anonymous  correspondents, 
juvenile  clerks,  needy  credit-raters,  or  vague- writing  managers. 

A  FIFTH  means  of  correcting  the  growing  wrong  of  the 
Agency  system  would  be  the  prompt  request,  monthly,  of  every 
person  whose  name  appears  in  the  Books  to  fee  the  teeret  report  on 
'which it  is  faseeL  If  the  Agencies  refuse  to  show  it,  in  the  origi- 
nal record j  tool't  andjpaye,  to  the  applicant,  he  may  rely  that  it  is 
libellous,  and  should  secure  counsel  who  could  either  cause  the 
name  to  be  suppressed  or  require  the  record  to  be  produced,  or 
both.  If  the  Agencies  allow  the  record  to  be  examined  on  appli- 
cation, the  person  affected  should  then  choose  whether  they  shall 
continue  to  trade  in  his  reputation  or  desist.  The  result,  in  either 
hypothesis,  must  cripple  the  system.  Of  what  service  to  any  one 
except  the  person  rated  satisfactorily  could  the  system  be,  in  the 
one  easel  In  the  other,  merchants  could  have  no  inducement  for 
paying  for  a  system  of  inquisition  which,  in  its  net  product, 
realized  the  sole  perfection  of  a  mutual-admiration  coterie. 

A  SIXTH  means,  and,  to  our  mind,  the  fittest  of  all  mentioned,  is 
resort  to  the  law  to  repress  their  libels  and  recover  damages,  as 
well,  for  breaches  of  contract  to  supply  information  correctly 
under  their  old  or  existing  subscription  contracts.  By  what  right 
are  ten  men  in  the  United  States  and  Canada  enabled  to  set  them- 
selves up  as  irresponsible  censors  of  their  fellow-citizens*  characters 
and  busings 'sfomnng?  Simple  agreements  at  large  with  third 
parties  on  the  subject  are  certainly  no  protection  so  long  as  the 
really  interested  party's  tastes  are  not  consulted.  Even  if  the  prin- 
ciple of  agency  were  allowed  as  a  shield,  in  a  single  ease,  where 
actual  trading  had  been  contemplated  in  good  faith,  it  would  be 
manifestly  against  public  policy  to  permit  universal  reporting  and 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  163 

irresponsible  criticism  simply  because,  at  some  time,  one  or  more 
thousands  of  one  and  a  quarter  millions  of  men  might  seek  credit 
from  one  of  thirty  thousand  other  men,  subscribers  to  and  employ- 
ers, so  called,  of  the  Agencies.  But  this  is  not  the  whole  of  the 
objection.  Of  the  million  and  over  rated  and  criticised  by  the 
Agencies  not  one  half  have  ever  had,  or  have  ever  sought  to  have, 
a  single  transaction  with  the  thirty  thousand  subscribers  !  How 
can  a  theory  of  constructive  agency  be  stretched  so  as  to  cover  these 
innumerable  and  wholly  indefensible  interferences  with  private 
character  and  commercial  standing  ?  Then,  as  to  the  fitness  of  ex- 
acting damages  from  professional  news-givers,  what  can  be  fairer 
than  to  insist  that  men  who  live  by  the  business  should  lose 
by  it,  also,  when  found  destroying  their  fellow-citizens,  for  private 
gain,  in  character  and  substance  ? 

Lest  the  reader  should  consider  these  suggestions,  however  just 
in  themselves,  the  result  of  bias  in  the  writer,  and  any  effort  to 
carrv  them  out  singular  and  exceptional,  and  to  be  avoided  for 
that  reason,  we  proceed  to  supplement  them  by  the  personal  testi- 
mony, conveyed  to  the  writer  within  a  single  fortnight,  of  a 
few  of  many  leading  citizens.  It  will  be  seen  that  our  advice  is 
already  adopted  by  great  numbers  of  merchants,  and  that  whoever 
would  imitate  them  need  have  no  fear  of  being  without  good  com- 
pany. L.  H.  P.,  a  leading  liquor  merchant,  says  his  experience  is 
"  that,  with  the  use  of  an  agency,  and  the  expenditure  of  a  bottle 
"  of  wine  with  its  spy,  he  can  break  the  credit  and  reputation  of 
"  his  neighbor.  He  knows  of  no  other  purpose  it  can  serve,  and 
"  wishes  it  suppressed." 

The  President  of  the Savings  Bank  says  :  "  I  have  borne 

"  the  double  relation  of  subscriber  and  correspondent.  While 
u  acting  in  the  former  capacity,  I  always  took  care  to  compliment 
""my  own  friends  and  keep  my  own  credit  in  the  meridian.  As 
"  a  partner  in  a  firm  without  more  than  $30,000  capital  I  found 
"  no  difficulty  in  getting  the  agencies  to  rate  the  house  at  $400,- 
"  000  (!)  up  to  the  moment  of  its  failure.  I  think  them  a  colossal 
"  humbug,  and  carefully  avoid  them  in  the  sense  of  giving  a  dol- 
"  lar  to  them." 

The  President  of  the and 's  Bank  says :  "  I  would  not 

"  throw  away  wine  on  any  of  them.  A  glass  of  lager  is  enough  to 
"  reach  the  credit  men  and  raters." 


164:  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

An  iron  merchant  on street  says:  "I  never  subscribed 

"  to  any  but  McKillop's,  and  I  found  they  always  omitted  to  rate 
"me  when  my  subscription  was  discontinued.  I  finally  got  so 
"  indignant  I  forcibly  ejected  one  of  the  canvassers  from  my 
"  office,  and  kicked  his  hat  after  him." 

A  shipping-house  in  South  street  regards  them  as  "  blackmail- 
"  ers,  to  whom  he  would  neither  give  a  statement  nor  subscription, 
"and  forbade  their  canvassers  to  come  on  our  premises.  Our 
"  ratings  have  suffered,  and  are  false,  but  we  are  too  well  known 
"  to  care."  \ 

A  member  of  another  shipping  house  writes :  "  A  canvasser  in- 
"  sinuated  that  an  attack  on  our  credit  would  be  made  if  we  did 
"  not  subscribe.  His  threat  is  fulfilled.  But  I  regret  its  vague- 
"  ness  prevents  legal  proceedings,  although,  to  himself,  the  mean- 
"  ing  and  malice  are  quite  clear." 

Another  gentleman,  well  known  as  a  leading  political  economist, 
sends  a  long  letter  declaring  in  the  most  positive  terms  that  "  the 
fi  system  is  a  curse,  and  ought  to  be  abated  by  legislation." 

A  hair  importer  of  another  city  says :  "  I  discovered  I  was  li- 
"  belled  through  the  effort  of  a  rival  trader,  who  used  the  agency 
"  against  me.  He  pretended  to  be  friendly,  but  was  on  the  inside. 
"  I  now  know  how  to  get  even,  and  will  surely  try." 

The  President  of  the  K.  T.  Co.  states  :  "  If  nierchants  are 
"  attacked  it  serves  them  right  for  supporting  such  an  institution. 
"  Let  them  blame  themselves,  and  turn  a  new  leaf." 

A  gentleman,  only  second  to  Henry  C.  Carey  in  deep  study  of 
the  economies  of  trade,  etc.,  says  :  "  They  are  dollar  and  cent  con- 
"  cerns,  started  and  continued  for  a  livelihood  under  a  public  pre- 
"  tence.  I  hope  to  see  them  placed  on  the  defensive  in  the  press, 
"  in  the  courts,  and  in  the  State  legislatures.  For  my  part,  I  am 
"  quite  certain  the  District  Attorneys  in  some  States  could  take 
"  them  in  hand  criminally." 

Mr.  H.,  of  H.  &  A.,  Wall  street,  says  :  "  "We  subscribed  at  one 
"  time,  but,  finding  the  reports  vague,  incorrect,  and  useless,  dis- 
"  continued.  Since  then  the  agencies  have  thought  less  of  us, 
"  and  in  their  reports  say  ( the  father  of  one  of  our  firm,'  who  died 
"  twenty  years  ago,  '  is  still  interested,'  and  place  us  with  our 
"  $400,000  capital  below  where  they  did  when  we  had  not  a  quar- 
"  ter  of  it." 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  165 

A  large  Broad-street  Liquor  Merchant  regards  it  the  "  essence 
"  of  recklessness  to  pay  any  attention  to  the  reports.  It  is  a  quick 
"  way,  a  perfect  short-cut,  to  Bankruptcy." 

A  leading  Clothier  says  :  "  Our  traveller  lately  found  an  agen- 
"  cy  correspondent  in  league  with  a  trader  to  purchase  all  he  could 
"  on  a  favorable  report  and  share  the  profits.  I  trust  your  agita- 
"  tioii  will  give  us  an  organization  or  common  system  of  action 
"  against  them." 

These  few  samples,  selected  at  random  from  a  mass  of  city 
correspondence,  with  two  exceptions  received  within  fourteen  days, 
barely  give  an  idea  of  the  extent  and  depth  of  feeling  already 
eager  to  be  directed  against  the  obnoxious  system.  If  we  were 
to  insert  a  tenth  part  of  the  general  denunciation,  by  letter 
or  word  of  mouth,  of  which  we  have  been'  made  the  receiver 
or  hearer  within  the  same  period,  our  book  would  not  contain 
pages  enough  to  print  it  in  detail.  But  even  these  examples  will 
suffice  to  show  the  hesitating  trader  that  his  views  are  also  those 
of  many,  many  other  active  and  reputable  merchants  in  every 
city  and  town  in  the  country,  and  that  he  can  rely  on  efficient 
countenance  and  support,  from  this  time  henceforward,  in  every1* 
justifiable  aggressive  movement  which  he  may  contemplate 
against  the  agency  system,  its  aiders  and  abettors. 

While  this  proof  of  an  aroused  public  opinion  must  be  assur- 
ing to  long-patient  and  long-suffering  traders,  it  carries  a  very  dif- 
ferent lesson  to  those  who  have  heretofore  freely  expressed  opin- 
ions of  their  neighbors  to  agency  detectives.  Such  persons  must 
.hear,  in  these  rumblings  of  an  approaching  controversy,  the  pre- 
sage of  disclosures  very  painf  ul  and  surprising.  Victims  will  soon 
be  demanding  the  names  of  their  traducers.  Courts  will  compel 
discovery.  The  natural  anxiety  of  informants  to  avoid  disclos- 
ure ought  to  be  a  warning  to  others  that  every  statement  made  to 
the  agencies  may  entail  disagreeable  consequences  and  should  be 
sedulously  avoided  hereafter.  A  habit  of  strict  refusal  to  say  any- 
thing about  neighbors,  under  any  circumstance,  to  the  minions  of 
the  Inquisition,  is  our  last  recommendation  in  this  connection.  Its 
wisdom  is  apparent.  The  neglect  of  it,  whether  from  thought- , 
lessness  or  misapprehension  of  the  scope  and  purpose  of  the  system, 
is  certain  to  bring  trouble  and  annoyance,  in  the  near  future,  to 
hundreds  who  thought  they  could  stab  in  the  dark  and  never  be 


1G6  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

detected.  "What  honorable  merchant  would  like  to  find  himself 
cheek  by  jowl  with  the  army  of  purposeful  or  purposeless  inform- 
ers ?  Which  one,  with  his  own  proper  business  to  look  after,  is 
prepared  to  act  as  a  sleuth-hound,  at  the  whip  and  beck  of  every 
agency  adventurer  who  may  propose  to  retail,  for  hire  and  profit, 
neighbors'  opinions  of  each  other  ?  The  occupation  is  certainly 
not  very  dignified  or  gracious,  at  any  time.  After  the  publication 
of  this  book,  we  think  we  may  say  it  will  also  be  very  apt  to  be- 
come both  troublesome  and  disreputable. 

Each  of  the  means  above  suggested  is  good,  in  its  way,  in  the 
effort  to  reduce  the  harmfulness  of  the  agencies.  A  few  of 
them,  faithfully  persisted  in,  will  give  back  to  injured  business 
men  a  large  part  of  the  fortunes  made  out  of  their  characters.  The 
use,  by  any  respectable  number  of  men,  of  all  the  means  indicated, 
will  speedily  put  an  end  to  the  system,  and  release  American  com- 
merce from  the  filthy  beak  and  strident  talons  of  the  agency  vul- 
ture. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  167 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE  ENORMITY  OF  THE  BLACK  LISTS— THE  NUMBER  OF  PERSONS 
AND  AMOUNTS  OF  INVESTED  CAPITAL  PLACED  UNDER  BAN 
—MUDDLED  CREDITS  AND  PARALYZED  TRADE. 

HAVIXG  demonstrated  in  a  preceding  chapter,  by  indubitable 
proofs  extracted  from  Agency  Reference  Books,  the  absurd  posi- 
tion occupied  by  the  System,  judged  with  its  own  standard,  it  only 
remains  for  us  to  direct  attention  to  the  private  reports,  or  Black 
Lists,  from  which,  while  favorable  ratings  appear  in  the  Reference 
Books,  opprobrious  matters  find  constant  circulation. 

We  have  seen  that  small  capital  ratings  are  never  associated 
with  good  credit  ratings,  even  for  small  amounts ;  that  is,  the  Agen- 
cies do  not  consider  business  character  or  private  character,  as  such, 
sufficient  to  determine  the  right  to  credit  proportionate  to  recog- 
nized capital,  or  worth  recognition.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  large 
capital,  although  rated  in  the  Reference  Books  generally  in  con- 
junction with  "  good  "  or  "  high"  credit,  preserves  no  fixed  relation 
to  business  or  private  character  even  in  the  Reference  Books,  and, 
outside  of  them,  in  the  private  reports,  is  often  associated  with  the 
most  damaging  statements.  The  ordinary  reader,  consequently,  can 
discover  no  method  of  detecting  whether  or  not  the  private  reports 
of  himself  are  carried  into  the  Reference  Book  ratings  for  either 
low  or  high  capital,  and  is  led,  if  rated  satisfactorily,  to  believe 
that  his  character  has  not  been  attacked,  or,  if  rated  unsatisfactori- 
ly, that  the  worst  appears  instead  of  being  reserved  for  private  sale 
and  distribution. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  expert  in  Agency  literature  written  or 
printed,  even  if  he  never  read  a  line  of  the  private  reports,  can  lay 
his  finger  in  the  Reference  Books  on  every  name  smirched  by 
masked  correspondents  or  secret  spies  and  recorded  for  permanent 
blackening.  Wherever  the  least  discrimination  is  shown  in  the 


168  THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 

application  of  the  movable  criteria  or  symbols  to  the  capital 
criteria  or  symbols,  it  is  caused  by  suppressed  information  or  pre- 
tended information  of  a  damaging  kind ;  but,  as  we  have  said,  the 
absence  of  such  discrimination  is  no  guarantee  whatever  that  mat- 
ter tending  to  justify  it  is  not  on  the  record.  The  Agencies  are 
indisposed,  except  for  selfish  reasons,  to  publish  low  ranges  of  credit 
in  connection  with  large  capital,  and  therefore  avoid  doing  so  as 
much  as  possible  ;  for  their  subscribers  are  expected  to  come  from 
such  persons,  in  the  main  ;  but  if  we  deduct  thirty  thousand  (present 
subscribers')  names  from  the  lists  of  the  three  Agencies,  and  allow  as 
many  more  to  represent  the  very  highest  ranges  of  capital  from  which 
future  subscribers  are  to  come,  we  shall  still  have  about  seven  hun- 
dred thousand  persons  subject  to  private  detraction  or  false  rating, 
and  outside  the  purview  of  a  selfish  policy  of  suppression  or  favor- 
itism. "When  we  are  able  to  say  that  a  tenth  of  the  trading  popu- 
lation of  New- York  is  on  the  Black  Lists  of  a  single  Agency,  it 
will  not  appear  exaggeration  when  we  add  that  the  total  number 
of  Merchants  and  Traders  in  the  United  States  and  Canada  actually 
derogatorily  written  about,  to,  or  in,  the  three  Agencies  sum  up 

NINETY  THOUSAND,  at  least  ! 

As  we  have  seen,  in  a  former  chapter,  how  the  capital  ratings  of 
TWO  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-TWO  Merchants  are  made  to  differ  ONE 

HUNDRED    AND    THREE    MILLIONS    OF    DOLLARS,    it    is    not    difficult    to 

conceive  a  similar  discordance,  many  times  multiplied,  between  the 
Agencies,  in  reference  to  estimates  and  reports  of  personal  charac- 
ter. Under  the  most  favorable  conditions,  one  man's  real,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  his  suppositions,  merit  is,  necessarily,  a  puzzle 
seldom  solved  and  never  demonstrable.  When  we  add  to  the  or- 
dinary inherent  trouble  of  determination  the  accessory  drawbacks 
of  distance,  anonymity,  unfiltered  prejudice,  or  undetected  parti- 
sanship, the  impediments  to  accuracy  become  infinite,  and  even 
the  uninformed  are  prepared  to  believe  that  the  contradictions  of 
capital  ratings  are  slight  in  comparison  with  the  raging  incoheren- 
cies  of  the  comparative  Black  Lists  on  the  subject  of  character. 

The  reader  must  have  noticed,  and  can  recall,  several  instances 
in  former  chapters  where  a  single  Agency  is  found  rating  Mer- 
chants in  good  credit  whose  character  as  business  men  is  assailed 
with  acrimony  in  the  private  reports.  "When  persons  in  good  cred- 
it by  Agency  admission  are  so  attacked,  it  is  nothing  wonderful  to 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  169 

find  that  persons  not  in  good  credit  by  Agency  authority  suffer  to  a 
monstrous   extent  in  the   secret   archives.     Common   experience 
shows  that  cowardly  detraction  is  seldom  lessened  by  increased } 
immunity  from  punishment. 

The  BLACK  LISTS,  therefore,  are  the  designation  we  employ  to 
characterize  the  vast  mass  of  names  blackened  by  slander  or  charred 
by  envy.  An  iceberg  is  known  to  be  two  thirds  under  water. 
The  Black  Lists  are  sunk  out  of  sight  with  their  accumulated 
weight  of  multiplied  impurities. 

The  Appendix  which  follows  contains  the  initials  of  about  TEN 
THOUSAND  Merchants'  and  Traders'  names,  with  city,  State,  and 
business  added.  It  represents  selections  from  the  Reports  of  the 
three  Agencies  under  late  dates,  and  is  the  result  of  several 
months'  almost  constant  labor.  In  our  second  and  future  editions 
we  propose  to  enlarge  the  List  until  we  shall  have  given,  for  his 
and  its  personal  satisfaction  and  identification  only,  the  name  and 
business  of  every  assailed  Trader  and  Corporation  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada. 

In  making  up  this  terrible  array  of  inculpatory  matter  our  pur- 
pose was  to  enable  oiir  readers,  individually,  to  learn,  without  oth- 
ers doing  so,  whether  or  not  the  Agencies  had  taken  liberties  with 
their  names.  We  therefore  confine  ourselves  to  initials ;  and 
where  even  this  slight  clue  might,  in  small  places  or  very  peculiar 
Trades,  lead  to  identification,  we  have  omitted  selection.  The 
Lists,  taken  in  connection  with  the  Comparative  Tables  in  Chapter 
XVIIL,  supply  incontrovertible  proof  of  every  allegation  made  in 
these  pages,  and  leave  our  readers  in  possession  of  a  f raid  of  infor- 
mation not  merely  novel  and  convincing,  but  never  before  attain- 
able, nor  apt  to  be  amplified  or  extended,  except  by  the  author. 
Its  publication  will  induce  and  compel  such  changes  in  the  Agency 
System  that  the  future  inquirer  will  be  wholly  at  a  loss  to  secure 
materials,  and  few,  or  none,  will  be  found  willing  to  devote 
the  same  amount  of  labor  or  time  to  their  compilation.  Luckily 
the  author's  opportunities  for  enlarging  his  proofs  and  exposing 
the  Agencies  can  only  cease  with  the  System ;  for  while  they  con- 
tinue to  publish  he  can  continue  to  confute,  and  will  assuredly  do 
so.  In  some  form,  it  may  even  become  necessary  and  desirable  to 
business  men  that  a  weekly  record  of  Agency  mistakes,  omissions, 
calumnies,  etc.,  should  be  made  up  and  circulated,  and  the  recep- 


170  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

tion  of  this  volume  will  show  whether  there  exists  a  desire  for  a 
cheaper,  more  convenient,  and  periodical  form  of  current  correc- 
tions, accessible  to  business  men,  side  by  side  with  the  costly  and 
cumbersome  Agency  System  infamies. 

Our  immediate  duty,  however,  is  with  the  Black  Lists  and 
such  portions  of  them  as  are  appended.  How  can  any  rational 
being  wonder  at  the  condition  of  trade  when  told  that  this  vast 
army  of  maligned  Merchants  and  Traders  is  simply  the  advance- 
guard  of  a  host  of  other  Merchants  and  Traders  who  may  finally 
number  six  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  !  Even  in  the  cities  selected  for 
illustration  we  only  cull  a  few  names  out  of  the  general  mass. 
The  vast  multitude  is  not  notably  lessened.  In  all  its  mighty  pro- 
portions of  numbers,  wealth,  accumulated  hopes  and  aspirations,  it 
awaits  the  next  roll-call.  Why,  if  a  foreigner  were  to  hear  from 
these  Agencies  that  the  proportion  of  reputable  and  trustworthy 
Merchants  and  Traders  in  the  United  States  was  less  than  ten  per 
cent,  could  we  blame  him  for  believing  that  our  social  fabric  was 
incorrigibly  rotten  ?  And  yet  the  passivists  will  say  it  makes  no 
matter  how  much  the  Agencies  belie  or  misreport  so  long  as  only 
a  few  dozen  persons,  in  the  case  of  each  trader,  are  let  into  the 
secret !  They  forget  that  the  falsehoods  or  libels  themselves  are 
not  reduced  in  intensity  by  the  method  of  repetition,  and  that  the 
aggregate  result  to  the  business  character  of  the  country  is  pre- 
cisely the  same  as  if  hundreds  were  made  the  confidants  of  the 
Agencies  in  each  instance.  All  who  have  reason  to  ask  are 
answered ;  and  those  ask  whose  opinion,  when  formed,  assists  to 
assure  success  or  failure  in  trade  to  the  person  inquired  about. 
What  else  is  wanted  to  leave  the  Trade  of  the  country  and 
commercial  confidence  both  prostrate  so  far  as  Agencies  can  pros- 
trate them  ? 

Even  if  we  leave  out  of  account  the  wrong  committed  on  private 
feelings,  or  the  danger  to  individual  prospects,  here  are  thousands  of 
millions  of  business  capital  confessedly  in  the  hands  of  cheats  or 
swindlers  !  Is  it  nothing  to  throw  a  cloud  round  the  utilization  of 
this  wealth  ?  to  place  its  owners  in  a  sort  of  moral  quarantine  de- 
structive to  energy  and  only  reached  by  the  desperate  ?  Our  expe- 
rience with  Agency  capital  estimates  was  certainly  bad  enough,  but 
in  all  that  ministers  to  evil,  and  evil  only,  these  character-killings 
of  the  Black  Lists  are  inconceivably  the  most  infamous  and  most 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  171 

deadly  to  legitimate  commerce.  If  they  enable  our  readers  to  ex- 
act relief  and  redress,  our  labor  in  compiling  them  will  have  been 
amply  rewarded. 

To  renew  our  line  of  argument : 

I.  We  set  out  to  prove  that  the  Agency  "  System"  was  a  sham 
and  a  swindle  of  the  first  magnitude  in  its  MANAGEMENT.      We 
have  produced  its  own  records  to  abundantly  support  this  claim. 

II.  We  proposed  to  show  that  it  was  really  no  System,  having 
neither  coherent  principle  nor  coherent  illustration  in  its  length 
or  breadth  !     The  chapter  on  the  "  Keys"  and  the  chapter  illus- 
trating the  discordance  of  the  Agencies  as  to  third  parties  and 
each  other,  are  conclusive  on  these  questions. 

III.  We  commenced  writing  with  the  design  of  fairly  discuss- 
ing the  right  of  such  an  anomalous  "  Institution"  to  exist  in  an 
intelligent  community  at  all,  or  without  special  legislation  directed 
against  its  abuse.      Who  can  say  we  have  come  to  a  negative  con- 
clusion without  careful  study  or  from  an  insufficient  array  of 

facts  ? 

IAr.  We  designed  to  suggest  to  the  business  classes  remedial 
measures  against  the  System.  What  the  suggestion  in  regard  to 
Guarantee  Companies  does  not  provide  for  is  amply  compensated 
by  the  maxim  sedulously  inculcated  throughout  these  pages,  Cease 
to  support  it  /  try  legal  conclusions  with  it,  if  wronged  ! 

It  only  remains  for  us  to  anticipate  the  methods  in  which  the 
System  will  essay  to  meet  our  arguments : 

I.  Its  first  effort  will  ~be  to  stop  the  circulation  of  this  work. 
To  defeat  this  purpose  we  rely  on  the  justice  of  Courts,  the  good- 
will of  the  independent  press,  and  the  assistance  of  the  long-suffer- 
ing and  grossly-betrayed  business  public. 

II.  Its  second  device  will  be  to  assail  the  author.     If  he  have 
anything  in  his  humble  life  to  specially  regret  more  seriously  than 
his  association  with  the  System,  he  has  yet  to  learn  it. 

III.  The  third  and  last  effort  will  l>e  either  to  combat  his  rea- 
soning or  join  issue  on  his  facts.     This  is  the  least  likely  of  all, 
but  the  one  which  the  writer  naturally  desires.     Should  the.  Sys- 
tem, however,  find  one  defender,  we  shall  challenge  him, 

Firstly,  To  point  to  a  single  line  in  the  work  which  is  not  a  ra- 
tional deduction  from  facts  stated  in  it. 


172  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

Secondly r,  To  CONTRADICT,  BY  PROOF,  A  SINGLE  ALLEGATION  or 

FACT  IN  THE  WHOLE  BOOK  ! 

If  we  have  written  with  warmth  betimes,  we  have  been  uncon-  ( 
scions  of  the  spirit  of  either  malice  or  uncharitableness.  If,  on 
looking  over  our  pages,  we  see  much  that  might  be  bettered,  we 
see  nothing  which  we  have  not  original  proof  to  sustain  and  il- 
lustrate. Our  fears  are  caused  by  a  sense  of  our  incapacity  to  do 
justice  to  the  subject ;  we  have  none  about  either  the  amount  of 
preparation  or  the  material  at  our  disposal. 

But  whether  the  Agencies  enter  on  a  labored  defence  or  riot, 
they  are  sure  to  rely  somewhat  on  the-  use  of  their  cheap  talent  for 
private  circulars.  These  will  reach  subscribers — will  be  practically 
exclusive  and  difficult  for  the  outside  p^iblic  or  the  author  to  ob- 
tain— and  may  be  made  more  efficient  in  retaining  patronage  than 
all  other  instrumentalities  combined.  They  possess  all  the  advan- 
tages of  partisan  statements  without  entailing  the  penalty  of  open 
confutation  like  a  newspaper  article  or  a  pamphlet  issued  for  gen- 
eral reading.  We  must  rely  on  some  one  of  our  readers  for  any 
specimen  of  this  kind  of  missile  which  may  be  stealthily  put  into 
his  hand.  The  open  defence,  if  any,  we  can  find  for  ourselves. 

One  additional  device  occurs  to  us.  The  Agencies  are  certain 
to  revamp  and  republish  an  old  collection  of  Commendatory  Let- 
ters written  by  a  few  subscribers,  years  ago,  in  return  for  overrat- 
ing. These  letters  are  simply  poor  imitations  of  the  ones  found  in 
any  Cherry  Pectoral  almanac  or  in  any  Stomach  Bitters  pronunci- 
amento.  When  not  manufactured  outright,  they  are  simply  eulo- 
gies compiled  by  knaves  for  misleading  fools. 

Recommendations  dated  subsequent  to  the  reading  of  this  pub- 
lication would  not  deserve  the  same  characterization — for  we  are 
bound  to  believe  the  writers  must  proceed  on  some  knowledge  of 
their  topic ;  but  we  predict  that  they  will  be  so  few  that  the 
apocalyptic  duty  of  eating  them  would  be  within  the  capacity  of 
an  ordinary  digestion. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED.  173 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

LAST    WORDS. 

So  far  of  the  past.  What  is  the  best  method  of  crippling  this 
dangerous  and  destructive  system  in  the  future  ? 

Most  of  the  suggestions  already  made  are  limited  in  application 
to  subscribers.  Those  about  to  be  made  may  be  acted  on  by  the 
whole  trading  community,  and,  on  our  theory,  should  be  carried  out 
promptly  and  persistently  until  relief  from  the  Agency  incubus 
shall  have  been  attained. 

One  of  the  most  effective  of  weapons  will  be  the  accumulation 
at  some  centre,  for  prompt  distribution,  of  proofs  of  Agency  errors, 
whether  arising  from  ignorance  or  malice.  It  will  readily  occur  to 
a  merchant  who  has,  at  any  time,  been  deceived  by  Agency  reports, 
that  the  value  of  his  information  depends  wholly  on  giving  it  pub- 
licity, and,  so  far  as  may  be,  in  connection  with  like  information 
from  other  merchants.  Its  point,  too,  will  greatly  depend  on  its  cir- 
culation in  the  neighborhood  where  it  originated,  and  might  have 
quick  confirmation  in  the  personal  experience  of  other  traders. 
Given  a  common  depository,  nothing  will  be  more  easy  than  to  di- 
rect these  proofs,  in  the  most  efficient  way,  at  the  system,  and  so 
preserve  a  constant  fire  along  the  whole  line  of  Agency  occupa- 
tion. The  writer  will  be  glad  to  constitute  himself  this  common 
repository. 

Even  superior  in  importance  to  this  gathering  of  proofs  is  the 
necessity  that  they  should  be  irrefragable  and  incontestable.  The 
opponents  of  the  System  must  not  imitate  its  looseness  of  state- 
ment, or  looseness  of  reasoning.  Wha.t  is  not  capable  of  judicial 
demonstration  to  a  common  intent  should  not  be  used.  Whatever 
contains  an  element  of  inference  should  be  strictly  scrutinized  if 
not  wholly  disregarded.  Where  personal  feelings  might  essay  to 
get  a  hearing,  they  should  be-  watched,  weighed,  and  eliminated. 


17-1  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

In  illustration  of  the  great  care  which  should  be  exercised  in  ac- 
cepting statements,  even  at  one  remove,  we  cannot  do  better  than 
mention  our  own  cautiousness  in  the  same  connection.  Since  the 
appearance  of  our  Prospectus  we  have  been  pestered  with  innumer- 
able offers  of  testimony  against  the  Agencies  from  their  Managers, 
Ex-Managers,  and  Clerks,  but  we  have  not  taken  a  single  illustration 
from  their  experience,  fearing  that,  as  our  time  did  not  permit  us  to 
go  to  the  various  places  referred  to  and  vrerify  the  tendered  evidence, 
we  might  fall  into  even  unintentional  error  and  give  expression 
to  individual  griefs  and  selfish  purposes.  When,  for  instance,  one 
De  Lestre,  an  Agency  employee,  wrote  from  Utica  that  "  he  knew 
of  several  instances  of  undermining  the  merchants  of  that  city," 
and  would  be  glad  to  place  the  information  at  our  service ;  or  when 
one  Francey,  in  like  employment,  informed  us,  among  other  things, 
that  the  Erie  Dispatch  had  shown  certain  favor  to  the  institution,  and 
several  others  tendered  us  lists  of  correspondents  and  damaging  de- 
tails for  a  consideration,  we  threw  their  propositions  in  the  waste- 
basket.  We  could  not  give  any  weight  to  statements  incapable  of 
ready  proof,  and  disregarded  them  at  once.  Each  merchant  must 
exercise  a  similar  watchfulness  in  taking  nothing  for  granted,  and 
only  vouch  for  alleged  facts  near  at  hand  and  capable  of  instant 
verification  if  disputed. 

If  subscribers  have  strong  motives  to  assist  in  furnishing  eviden- 
ces of  Agency  mistakes  and  mismanagement,  ^^subscribers  have 
infinitely  more  reasons  for  doing  so.  Non-subscribers  are  the  sub- 
jects of  Agency  dissection  for  the  pretended  benefit  of  subscribers. 
Their  character  and  standing  are  the  System's  stock-in-trade. 
Their  financial  assistance,  through  yearly  subscriptions,  is  one  of 
the  constantly-pursued  objects  of  Agency  effort.  If  they  would 
escape  the  alternative  of  propitiating  Dagon  by  gifts,  or  of  be- 
ing in  hourly  fear  of  his  malignity,  let  them  strike  hands  with  ev- 
ery man  who  has  already  set  his  face  against  the  monster,  and  who 
proposes  to  destroy  him.  The  ruined  may  retrieve  themselves  in 
time ;  but  it  behooves  selected  victims,  as  well,  to  do  everything  in 
their  power  to  escape  either  the  penalties  of  a  worshipper  or  the 
pains  of  a  sacrifice. 

"We  have  now  finished  our  initiatory  work  in  these  subterranean 
crypts,  and  are  about  to  emerge  again  into  the  open  air.  'Tis  a 
pleasing  riddance — the  escape,  even  for  a  short  time,  from  the  rank 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED.  175 

vapors  of  these  lower  regions,  reeking  with  foetid  exhalations  of 
assailed  or  decaying  characters.  But  some  one  must  have  gone 
down  into  their  depths  to  explore  and  expose  their  secrets,  and  we 
are  confident  that,  however  poorly  we  have  performed  our  duty, 
the  world  of  business  will  be  the  better  for  it. 

Much  that  we  could  have  added  must  wait  for  another  occasion. 
We  could  not  wisely  have  given  more  sample  facts,  for  we  rather 
wish  to  gain  the  attention  of  the  public  to  a  great  outrage,  and 
enlist  it  in  a  campaign  for  its  extirpation,  than  to  exhaust  resources 
which,  to  be  most  effective,  must  be  held  in  a  prudent  reserve  and 
only  applied  to  revive  a  flagging  interest  or  reinforce  a  waning 
controversy.  Like  any  other  agitation,  the  one  initiated  by  the 
writer  against  the  Commercial  Agency  System  in  America  should 
grow  with  discussion,  and  should  be  supplied,  in  its  progress,  with 
new  weapons  and  missiles  suited  to  the  varying  phases  of  the  con- 
test. He  is  not  a  careful  soldier  who  brings  all  his  troops  into  ac- 
tion at  -the  opening  of  the  engagement.  The  knowledge  of  a  pow- 
erful reserve  force  is  also  as  encouraging  to  friends  as  dispiriting 
to  the  enemy.  We  have  this  reserve,  and  intend  to  use  it  where 
and  when  it  may  reasonably  be  hoped  to  do  most  good  to  para- 
lyzed trade  and  sadly-beset  traders. 

As  for  the  Agency  system  itself,  this  work  places  it  on  trial  in 
the  Unitedr  States  and  Canada.'  We  call  upon  it  to  plead,  and  go 
to  the  country  on  the  issue  framed.  Here  is  our  evidence  in  part. 
Where  is  theirs  to  contradict  or  refute  it  ? 

The  question  is  not,  "  What  is  the  writer's  motive  ?"  although 
we  can  argue  on  motives,  if  necessary  ;  but,  "  Can  his  facts  be  re- 
futed ?"  Not,  "  Does  he  hope  to  be  benefited  by  assailing  the  in- 
stitution ?"  but,  "  Is  the  institution,  in  its  principle  or  as  conduct- 
ed, fit  to  exist  in  a  free  community  ?"  We  say  it  is  not,  call  on 
its  defenders  to  come  forth,  and,  with  an  assured  faith  in  the  out- 
come, leave  the  result  to  the  final  opinion  of  an  intelligent  press 
and  an  educated  public. 

The  Detective  and  Informer  belong  to  the  paths  of  illicit  trade 
or  the  skulking-places  of  accomplished  crime.  They  should  have 
no  countenance  in  the  marts  of  legitimate  commerce  or  among 
the  men  whose  pre-eminent  achievements  have  placed  us  in  the 
position  of  one  of  the  Great  Powers  of  the  World. 

If  we  must  have  Inquiry,  let  it  be  open,  straightforward,  re- 


176  THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 

sponsible,  intelligent,  interested  inquiry,  affording  facilities  to  both 
Creditor  and  Debtor,  Buyer  and  Seller,  amenable  to  both,  and  regu- 
lated by  Law ;  an  Inquiry  befitting  the  manliness  of  the  American 
character,  and  recognizing  its  fitness  to  be  judged  by  the  highest 
standards  of  business  probity  and  commercial  honor. 


THE 


SECRET 
BLACK  LISTS 

OF    THE 

"SYSTEM." 


PART   I. 


EMBRACING    THE    PRINCIPAL    COMMERCIAL    AND 
MANUFACTURING    CENTRES     IN    THE 


United  States  and  Canada, 


NEW-TORE:  CITY. 


A I Pawnbroker. 

A P Ret.  Clothing. 

A G.  W Stocks. 

A J.  L Cotton  Brokers. 

A J.  E R.  It.  Contractor. 

A &  C Hotel. 

A &  H Com'n  Flour. 

A J.  S India-Rubber  Broker. 

A J Beer  Saloon. 

A N '. .  .Painter. 

A S.  &  Son Tailors. 

A A.  .Ret.  Hats  and  Men's  Furn'g. 

A P Boots  and  Shoes. 

A &  C . .  .Com'n  Tob.  and  Gig. 

A B.  N Sewing  M.  Findings. 

A C Mnfr.  Boxes. 

A G.  B Wliol.  Wines  and  Liq. 

A J.  H Stoves,  etc. 

A L Watches. 

A G.  &  Son Wheelwrights. 

A J Tailor. 

A W.  A.  &  Co Teas. 

A B.  F.  .Com'ii  Prod,  and  Confec. 

A S.  M Glass  Stainer. 

A W.  C Bottles,  etc. 

A W.  E Prov. 

A W.  H.,  Jr Pickles,  etc. 

A G &  Co Chemicals. 

A H.  M.  &  Co Liquors. 

A McH &  Co..  .Stock  Brokers. 

A R,  W.  &  Co Lumber,  etc. 

A &  A Jobbers  and  Ret. 

Cloths. 

A &  Co Jewelry. 

A M.  M Ret.  Fancy  Goods,  etc. 

A M Com'n  Trim'gs. 

A M Jobber  Jewelry. 

A W t Tailor. 

A A Flour. 

A I W Founders. 

A F Artificial  Flowers. 

A S &  Co Flour  Mills. 

A J Saloon. 

A &  D Leaf  Tobacco. 

A H.  F Coal. 


A J.  G.  II Liquors. 

A &  F Gro. 

A &  B Com'n  Flour  and 

Storage. 

A &  F Sugar  Refiners. 

A W.  C R.  E.  Broker. 

A F P Co 

A W.  E.  &  Co Spring  Beds. 

A W.  H Builder. 

A L Boots  and  Shoes. 

A M Ret.  Millinery. 

A &  Co Drugs. 

A C.  G.  &  Co Mnfg.  Jewellers. 

A B &  Co Refrigerators. 

A C.  C Stock  Broker. 

A Mrs.  F. .  .Hoopskirts  and  Fancy 

Goods. 

A G.  C Watches. 

A H Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

A J.  II Drugs. 

A D.  Sons Jobbers  Rope. 

A H.  B.  &  Co Printers'  Ink. 

A- J.  T.  &  Co Furniture. 

A L and  P Co 

A &  Co Tobacco. 

A &  S Lumber,  etc. 

A G.  B.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

A E.  S Wine  and  Fruit. 

A Bros Ins.  Agents. 

A R Felt  Horse  Cloths. 

A &  J Jobbers  Hosiery. 

A C.. .  .Optician  and  Mathematical 

Insts. 

A Bros Hops  and  Malt. 

A &  Co Upholsterers. 

A &  K Ret.  D.  G. 

A &  H : .  .Rectifiers. 

A J.  C Tailor. 

A G.  B.,  Jr.,  Agent Ret.  Hats. 

American  B T Co 

American  B B Co 

American  C Co 

American  D D Co. 

American  E C Co. 

American  F Co. 


180 


THE   COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


American  F 
American    G 

S  -  Co. 
American  G 
American  M 
American  P 
American  P 
American  P 
American  P 
American  P 
American  P 
American 

M  -  Co. 
American  S- 
American  S— 
American  W 
American  Z 


Co. 


W 


and 


-E Co. 

Co Plating. 

-  P Co. 

Co. 


A  -  R  ................  R.  E.  Agent. 

A  -  &  T  -  .  .  .Druggists'  Sundries. 
A  -  J.  H  ............  Cabinetmaker. 

A  -  A  ................  Press  Rooms. 

A  -  J.  C  .................  Jeweller. 

A  -  J  ......................  Drugs. 

A  -  S  .............  Whol.  Hats,  etc. 

A  -  W  ..................  Crockery. 

A  -  &  Co  ................  Shipping. 

A  -  C  ..................  Machinery. 

A  -  C.  E  ............  Ret.  Millinery. 

A  -  &  S  -  .......  Whol.  Millinery. 

A  -  G.  N  ...................  Drugs. 

A  -  E.  C  ............  Turkish  Baths. 

A  -  W.  B.,  Agent  ..........  Liquors. 

A  -  A  -  R  -  Co.  ..Felt  Roofing. 
A  -  J  ...................  Ret.  D.  G. 

A  -  &  Co  ........  Sashes  and  Blinds. 

A  -  &  G  -  .......  Jobbers  Jewelry. 

A  -  A  ......  Ladies'  Undergarments. 

A  -  S.  H.  .Peddler  Millinery  Goods. 
A  -  L.  L.  F  ..........  Tob.  and  Cig. 

A  -  R  .............  Tobacco  Broker. 

A  -  A  .........  Shipping  and  Com'n 

A  -  C.  S  ............  Whol.  Liquors. 

A  -  W.  A  ......  Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 

A  -  J.  L  .................  Teas,  etc. 

A  -  W.  T  ............  Fruit  Dealer. 

A  -  P  -  Co  ........  Mnfrs.  Pianos. 

A  -  T  -  &  Co.  .Shipping  and  Com. 
A  -  A.  J  ..................  Stables. 

A  -  J.  G  ............  Liq.  and  Res't. 

A  -  J.  E..  .Coffees,  Teas,  and  Spices. 
A  -  T.  W  ..................  Stoves. 

A.  -  E.  V.  &  Co  ............  Printers. 

A  -  &  B  -  .  .  .  Saddles  and  Harness. 
A  -  L  ....................  Clothing. 

A  -  J.  &  W  -  .  .  .  .Mnfrs.  Hats  and 

Caps. 
A  -  J.  E  .....................  Feed. 

A  -  Mfg.  Co  ..........  Gas  Fixtures. 

A  -  &  W  -  .....  Essential  Oils  and 

Drugs. 
A  -  J.  &  L  ......  Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 


A  -  &  A  -  .Mnfrs.  and  Com.  Mers. 
A  -  S.  J.  .Mufr.  Ladies'  Underwear. 
A  -  II  ...........  Glass  and  Frames. 

A  -  N  ...............  Paper  collars. 

A  -  F  -  Co  ..........  Mnfrs.  Felt. 

A  -  S  ..........  Mnfr.  Ladies'  Suits. 

A  -  G.  A  ...................  Shirts. 

A  -  M  .................  Mnfr.  Caps. 

A  -  &  B  -  .  .  .  .,  ........  Plumbers. 

A  -  P  ...........  Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

A  -  &  A  -  .  .  .Mnfrs.  Ladies'  Suits. 

A  -  &  R  -  .  .Mnfrs.  Lace  and  Hair 

Goods. 

A  -  W.  T  ...................  Fruit. 

A  -  &  M  -  .................  Hotel. 

A  -  A.  D  ..............  Undertaker. 

A  -  J  ...............  Ret.  Millinery. 

A  -  W.  B  .................  Liquors. 

A  -  &  T  -  .............  Hardware. 

A  -  &  B  -  ............  Stationery. 

A  -  T.  H  ..................  Liquors. 

A  -  T.  &  Co  ..........  Com'n  Prod. 

A  -  E.  M  .............  R.  E.  Broker. 

A  -  T.  S  ........  Mnfr.  White  Lead. 

A  -  C.  B.  &  Co  .....  Mnfrs.  Ribbons. 

A  -  J  ......  German  Fruit  and  Prod. 

A  -  J  ..............  Whol.  Clothing. 

A  -  J  ........................  Gro. 

A  -  W.  F  .....  Auction  Fancy  Goods. 

A  -  P  -  Co. 

A  -  H  -  and  G  -  Co. 

A  -  S  -  V  -  P  -  Mnfg.  Co. 

A  -  J  .........  Metropolitan  Bakery. 

A  -  G.  W  ............  Lithographer. 

A  -  T  ...............  Coppersmith. 

A  -  &  Co  ..........  Paper  Fashions. 

A  -  J  ......................  Printer. 

A  -  A  .......  Mnfr.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B  -  C.  B.,  Jr  ................  Tailor. 

B  -  J.  A  ..............  Plated  Ware. 

B  -  E.  &  Son  .........  Leaf  Tobacco. 

B  -  Bros  .............  Ret.  Clothing. 

B  -  S  -  &  Co  ......  Imps.  Window 

Glass. 
B  -  S  .......  Mnfr.  Balmoral  Skirts. 

B  -  Bros  ............  Jobbers  Cloth. 

B  -  M.  M.  &  Co  .............  Furs. 

B  -  E.  F  .............  Jobber  Cloth. 

B  -  Bros  ...............  Gasburners. 

B  -  „  &  K  -  ...............  Pianos. 

B  -  J  ................  Peddler  D.  G. 

B  -  M  ..................  Ret.  Hats. 

B  -  &  M  -  .....  ...  .Note  Brokers. 

B  -  M.  B  .............  R.  E.  Agent. 

B  -  H  ........  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

.  F  ...........  Mnfg.  Jeweller. 

•  ..........  Silverplaters. 

B  -  &  C  -  ...............  Marble. 

B  -  H.  E  .........  Mnfr.  Cane  Fibre. 

B  -  II  ................  Spring  Beds. 

B  -  H.  &  Son  ........  R.  E.  Broke 


ers. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


181 


B &  C .  .Fisb,  Prov.  and  Prod. 

B &  Co Coal  Brokers. 

B E.  J Liquor  Broker. 

B C Butter  and  Cheese. 

B A.  F Lumber. 

B J.  H House  Furn'g. 

Bros.  &  Co Express. 

R.  J Syrups,  etc. 

-Co. 

G.  H Hosiery. 

B Bros Mnfrs.  Shirts. 

B G.  &  J. . .  .Imps.  German  Linen. 

B C.  C Mnfr.  Shirts. 

B V Mnfr.  Ostrich  Feathers. 

R.  &  Co Prod,  and  Com'n. 

&  G Ladies'  Undergar- 
ments. 

Bros Shipping  and  Com'n. 

Prov.,  etc. 

J Ret.  Clothing. 

J.  S Mnfr.  Hats  and  Caps. 

B F.  J Restaurant. 

B H.  F House  Furng  Goods. 

B Bros  Clothing. 

B T &  B Co Trusses, 

B P Contractor. 

B S Ret.  Clothing. 

B J Metal  Roofer. 

B W.  J Wigs  and  Hair. 

B Bros. Lumber,  etc. 

B J.  F Com'n  Prod. 

B L Miifr.  Clothing. 

B M Gro. 

B O.  H Mnfr.  Skirts. 

B S.  W Banker. 

B C.  N.  &  Co Bankers. 

r.  T.  &  Sons.. .  .Wood  and  Coal. 
Mnfr.  Cigar-Boxes. 

r.  O Paint  Broker. 

Printer. 

Bros Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

L.  W.  &  Son Canned  Soup. 

&  B D.  G.  Brokers  and 

Com'n  Mers. 

B &  J Fruits. 

B I Pawnbroker. 

B J.  .Foreign  and  Domestic  Fruit. 

B J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B S.&  M Leaf  Tob. 

B &  K Furniture. 

B &  Son Foreign  Fruits. 

B A.  J Liquors. 

B G.  W Watches,  Chains,  etc. 

B C Baker. 

B &  Co Shipping  and  Com'n. 

B C Manfr.  Clothing. 

B T Hotel. 

B J Tailor. 

B C.  &  Co Bookbinders. 

B J Butcher. 

B S.  R Gro. 


&  Sons Founders. 

F.  J Dyewoods. 

&  H Dyeing,  etc. 

J.  H Diamonds. 

B &  B Mnfrs.   Shoes. 

B J Paper,  etc. 

B J.  W Liquors. 

B Bros Flour  and  Feed. 

B M Cigars. 

B C Com'n. 

B H.  K Jobber  and  Com'n. 

B &  S Jobbers  Tea. 

B &  S Mnfrs.  Jewelry. 

B G.  Z Bottles. 

B E Saddlery. 

W.H... Tailor. 

C.  B Repairer  Jewelry. 

'.  B Butter,  Cheese,  etc. 

J.  E Domestic  Gloves. 

M Stoves. 

B I.  &  F Leaf  Tobacco. 

B W Ret.  Shoes. 

B A &  Co. . .  .Mnfrs.  Clothing. 

B W.  A Com'n  Tobacco. 

B A. Artificial  Flowers. 

B E.,  Est.  of House  Furn'g 

B J Ret.  D.  G. 

B P D.  G. 

B M Co Ag'l  Implts. 

B J.  A Clocks. 

B T.  &  Son Printers. 

B T.  H.  &  Co Fishing  Tackle. 

&  Co.  ..Mnfrs.  Straw  Gds. 

&  Co. Patent  Meds. 

&  Co Jobbers  Tea. 

C.  M Wool  Broker. 

F.W Teas. 

A Broker  D.  G. 

E Furniture. 

Bros Mnfrs.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B &  F Gro. 

B A Teas. 

B &  Co Shipping  and  Com'n. 

B M.  &  Co Manfrs.  Shirts  and 

Drawers. 

&  K Willow  ware. 

H.  H Banker. 

W.  C Grain  Broker. 

.  W.  &Co Furniture. 

J.  C.  &  Sons Chandlers. 

C T Co. 

E Co. 

B G.  D Liquor  Broker. 

B B Pipes  and  Tobacco. 

B M Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

B M Auctioneer. 

B S Painter. 

B L.  P.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

B E.  R Agent  Furniture. 

B W.  D Mnfr.  Bonnets. 

B N.  B Painter. 


182 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


B I.  &  Son Imps.  Toys,  etc. 

B D.  N R.  K.  Ties. 

B J.  W.  &  Sons Prov. 

B W.  H.  &  Co. .  .Mnfrs.  Laces  and 

Embroideries. 

B H.  M.  &  Son Coopers. 

B A.  W.  &  Co Bond  Dealers. 

B &  J— - .— Homoeopathic  Meds. 

B S.  B Cotton  Broker. 

B E.  L Shipping  and  Com'n. 

B &  G . .  Johbers  Fancy  Goods. 

B A Paper  Collars 

and  Cuffs. 

B J Artificial  Flowers. 

B C  Liquors. 

B J Plumber. 

B W.  L Drugs. 

B W Gro. 

B M .Hardware. 

B A Oysters. 

B E.  W Braids. 

B J.  L Pianofortes. 

B C Leather  and  Findings. 

B O Tobacco. 

B A.  &  Sou R.  E.  Brokers. 

B A.  H.  &  Co S.  M.  Needles. 

B &  G •Com'n  Paper. 

B L.  &  T.  H R.  E.  Brokers. 

B &  Bro Gro. 

B W.  N Hardware. 

B P.  F Liquors. 

B J.  W Painter. 

B J Liquors. 

B S.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

B A Whol.  Gro. 

B M Trusses. 

B A.  &  J Mnfrs.  Curled  Hair. 

&H Brushes. 

Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

W.  H Rules. 

&  P Stained  Glass. 

J.  H Nickel  Works. 

B L.  F Brassworker. 

B W.  S Mnfr.  Hair  Goods. 

B A.  C Tailor. 

B J.  W ., Tailor,  etc. 

B 1.  Jr.  &  Co Com'n  Cotton,  etc. 

B J.  A.  &  Co Plumbers. 

B J.  &  Co Carpenters. 

B &  B Ret.  Clothing. 

B &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

B &  K Mnfrs.  Plastique 

Goods. 

B W.  II R.  E.  Broker. 

B R.  T Hair. 

B W Ret.  Hats,  Clothing,  etc. 

B W Builder,  etc. 

B G.  H Stocks. 

B L Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B J.  &  Co Human  Hair. 

B J Men's  Furn'g. 


J.  E Patternmaker. 

C.  F Restaurant. 

C.  W Paper. 

C.  P Linen  Collars. 

M Meat. 

Bros Jewellers. 

C.  A.  &  S.  H Undertakers. 

B L.  &  Sons Prod. 

B F.  A Leaf  Tobacco. 

B I Jobber  Shirts. 

B J.  P Shoe  Findings  and 

Fittings. 

B L Fancy  Goods. 

B &  W Fish. 

B D Mdse.  Broker. 

B I Leather  and  Findings. 

B H Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B C.  H.  &  Co Brokers  and 

Dealers  Syrups,  etc. 

B B Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B B Sailmaker. 

B G Corks. 

B S.  T Liquors. 

B W Paints. 

B Z.  R Printer. 

A.  V Artists'  Materials. 

M.  J Ladies'.and  Children's 

Underwear. 

D.  &  A Leaf  Tobacco. 

B Flour. 

.  McJ.  &  Co.Tobacco  Inspectors. 

A Tea  Broker. 

J.  H Wool. 

Bros Carriages. 

G &  Co Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

Hardware. 

B G Gilder,  etc. 

B R Books. 

B G.  N Umbrellas,  etc. 

B S Stoves. 

B L Pianos. 

B &  L Bonnet  Frames. 

B— —  E Mnfr.  Cigars. 

B M Confec. 

B L.  &  Co Tob.  and  Cig. 

B 'H Liquors. 

B J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B G Liquors. 

B J Carpets. 

B A Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

B A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Jewelry. 

B B.  J Kid  Gloves. 

B B Com'n  Foreign  D.  Goods. 

B H Butcher. 

B Mrs.  M Ret.  Fancy  G. 

B I Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

B A.  &  Co Men's  Furn'g. 

B &  M Mnfrs.  Fringes,  etc. 

B I &  R Pencils,  etc. 

B C...  ...Tailor. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


183 


B F , Restaurant. 

13 S Ket.  Shoes  and  Trunks. 

B J.  F.  &  Co. . .  .Pawnbrokers  and 

Diamond  Dealers. 

B &  U Stock  Brokers. 

B C.  W Shipping  and  Com'n. 

B P.  D Mni'r.  Pocketbooks. 

B C Tailor. 

B R Repacker  Fruit. 

B &  H Trimmings. 

B P Trimmings. 

B W.  J.  &  Co Imps.  Linens, 

White  Goods,  etc. 

L Gro. 

B &  Co R.  E.  Brokers. 

•  G.  &  Co Auctioneers. 

J.  H.  &Bro Hotel. 

&C Ret.  D.  G. 

E.  &  Co Com'n  Cotton. 

&  Co Financial  Agents. 

&  Bro Tinware  and  Roofers. 

B Tailor. 

J Pianos. 

J Hardware. 

&  Co Imps.  Toys,  etc. 

W.  H Baking  Powder,  etc. 

B M Co Soda  Apparatus. 

B H Ship  Chandler. 

B Bros.  &Co Bags. 

B I Tobacco. 

B H.E Hotel. 

B &  W Organs. 

B C  &  Co <  Stoves. 

B F.  &  Co Imps.  Upholstery. 

B S.  Son Printers'  Rollers. 

B A Com'n  Liquors. 

B I Ret.  Millinery. 

B J.  C Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B- P.  J Cigars. 

B J.  &  Co. .  ..Shipping  and  Com'n: 

B H Tinsmith. 

B G.  &  Co Books. 

B C Com'n  Broom  Corn,  etc. 

B O.  P Wines. 

&  Co R.  E.  Auctioneers. 

W Whol.  Liquors. 

A.  J Baker. 

W Sailmaker. 

Perfumery. 

Gro. 

.Horseshoeing. 

M Shirts. 

—  C.  Jr Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

B C.  S House  Furn'g  Goods. 

B &  C Oils. 

B S.  Sou  &  Co. .German  Prod.,  etc. 

G Toys. 

.Jobber  Men's  Furn'g. 
Cigars. 

S.  H.  &  Co. . .  .Jobbers  White  G. 

W.  T ...Varnish. 


B F.  W Felt  Cushions. 

B W. . . . Carriage  Trim'gs. 

B C.  F Printer. 

B I.  &  Bro Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

B &  B Imps,  and  Jobbers 

Fancy  Goods. 

B &  R D.  G.,  etc. 

B K &  Co Mnfrs.  Shirts. 

B &  Co Feed  and  Grain. 

B &  S Ret.  Clothing. 

B S Ret.  Shoes. 

B &  O Pianos. 

B Bros Ret.  F'cy  and  D.  G. 

B R.  S Com'n  Prod. 

B A.  J D.  G. 

B E.  M Ret.  Wines  and  Liq. 

B J.  N Liquors. 

B L Jobber  D.  G. 

B Bros Jobbers  Hosiery. 

B B Liquors. 

B I Wines  and  Liq. 

B L Tailors'  Trim'gs. 

B S.  &Bro Stoves  and  Tins. 

B &  C Leaf  Tobacco. 

B E.,  Jr Mnfr.  Paints. 

B J.  A. . . : Ret.  Laces. 

B W Mnfr.  Trunks,  etc. 

B H Coal. 

B H.  M Whol.  Straw  G. 

B L Straw  Goods. 

B Bros Medicines. 

B F Gro. 

B G.  M Watches. 

B A Stoves. 

B Mrs.  J Coal. 

B &  T Homoeopathic  Books 

and  Med. 

B A.  W Cabinet-maker. 

B C.  L Note,  Stock,  and  Gold 

Broker. 

B S.  M Stock  Broker. 

B &  er Stationery,  etc. 

B J.  L Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

B T Ret.  D.  G. 

B &  S Furniture. 

B H Gro. 

B &  B Mineral  Waters. 

B E.  D Livery  Stable. 

B C Cabinettnkr. 

B J Toys,  Whips,  etc. 

B W.  F Paper  Warehouse. 

B D Imp.  Italian  and  French 

Prod. 

B T Engraver,  etc. 

B &  P Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

B F.  Jr.  &  Bro Pianofortes. 

B J.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

B S.  W".  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

B H.  H Banker. 

B &  D Presses. 

B R. ..  Painter. 


184 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


B S Boilermkr. 

B &  C . .  .Crockery,  Chinaware, 

etc. 

B L Jobber  Hats  and  Caps-. 

B &  S— — Tailors. 

B M Het.  Fancy  Goods. 

B &  C . . .  .Printers  and  Stat'rs. 

B H. . .  * Restaurant. 

B P Canned  Fruits. 

B F Tailor. 

B T.  E S.  Am.  Com'n. 

B L Tailor. 

B F.  E. .  .Com'n  Rivets,  Bolts,  etc. 

B G Liquors. 

B L Gro. 

B &  F Cabinetmkrs. 

B M &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

B &  Z Cotton  Brokers. 

B A.  &  Co Com'n  Flour  and 

Grain. 

B E.  C Com'n  Furs. 

B J Liquors. 

B &  S . . .  .Auction  and  Com'n. 

B P Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

B W.H Ret.  Clothing. 

B J.  M Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

B W.  J.  &  Co Drug  and  Chemi- 
cal Brokers. 

B W Patternmkr. 

B J.  J.  &  Bro Iron  Railings. 

B D Crockery. 

B G Mnfr.  Skirts. 

B &  S Wheelwrights. 

B J.  W Grain,  Feed,  etc. 

B R H.  Tea  Co. 

B &  G Jobbers  Flour. 

B W.  J Iron. 

H F.  ...Mnir.  Children's  Carriages. 

B T.  W Tip  Printing. 

B E.  A Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

B Bros Ret.  D.  G. 

B J.  A Sail  Duck. 

B E House  Furn'g. 

B J.  S Engravings. 

B S.  L Builder. 

B P &  Co Carriages. 

B A.  P Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

B &  T Fruit  Brokers. 

B &  O Whol.  Gro. 

B C Kindling- Wood. 

B J Ret.  Hats. 

B &  Son Dentists. 

B N.  S Jewelry. 

B P Liquor  Broker. 

B C.  E Backgammon  and  Chess 

Boards. 

B Do  P &  Co. . .  .Com'n  Wines 

and  Liq. 

B B Hotel. 

B F.  &  Co Dyestuffs. 

B H .Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 


—  &  X Carpenters. 

B J.  G Furniture. 

B F Stationery,  etc. 

B O Foreign  Fruit. 

B C Builder. 

B A Bookseller. 

B Coal  Co. 

B J Liquors. 

B P Liquors. 

B L Co Lithographers  and 

Printers. 

B Son  &  Co.  .Shipping  and  Com'n. 

B F.  L Butcher. 

J.  &  Co Manfrs.  Desks. 

J.  A Com'n  Prod. 

G.  R.  &  Son Hardware. 

J.  B.  &  Co Carriages. 

X.  S Com'n  Paper. 

R.  B.  &  Co Paper  Stock. 

•N.  H Ship  Broker. 

B C.  I Jobber  Millinery. 

B &  M Prod. 

B J.  P German  Silverware. 

B V.  W Drugs. 

B W.  Jr.  &  Co Mnfrs.  B.  &  S. 

B J.  W Builder. 

B D.  B Com'n  Liquors. 

B Van  V &  Co. .  Stock  Brokers. 

B H Liquors. 

B G.  H Coal. 

B M Tobacco. 

B Bros Furs,  etc. 

B F... Exchange  and  Ticket  Office. 

B S Mnfr.  Trimmings. 

B &  Co Scroll  Mill. 

B L Ret,  Hats,  etc. 

B H Glass  Moulds. 

B H.  D.  &  J.  U Shipping. 

B C.  C Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B L.  &  Son Ret.  B.  &  S. 

B &  Wr Zincworkers. 

B A.  E Exchange  Broker. 

C.  A Eureka  Solvent. 

De  W.  C Coffee-Pots. 

E Machinist. 

E.  S Com'n  Grain. 

J.  B..W.  I.  Shipping  andCom'n. 

J Brewers'  Supplies. 

13 J Clothing. 

B J Ret.  Hats. 

B J.  H Hats,  Caps,  Furs, etc. 

L Drugs. 

M Tailor,  etc, 

M Mnfr.  Shirts. 

M.  B Job  Printer. 

[.  P Jobber  Fancy  Goods. 

R Laces. 

R.  J Mnfr.  Cacks. 

T.  E Contractor. 

W.  A.  Jr. Leather  and  Findings. 

A.  &  F Machinists. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


185 


B Bros Eet.  Clothing. 

B E.  E.  &  Co Envelopes. 

B J.  &  Son. .  .Bankers  and:  Agents. 

B S.  &  Co Hide  Brokers. 

B W.  Sons.  .Lighters  and  Towing. 

B W.  Sou  &  Co Com'n  Wools. 

B &  Co Heating  Apparatus. 

B &  Co Stock  brokers. 

B G.  F Saloon. 

B J.  F.  &  G.  H.  B Musical 

Instruments. 

B P M W S Co. 

B J.  L.  &  Bro Bankers  and 

Brokers. 

B H.  L.  &  Co Woolens. 

B W.  M Printer. 

B C &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

B &  Co Shipping  and  Com'n, 

Flour  and  Grain. 

B Mrs.  D Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

B J Ret.  D.  G. 

B A Whol.  Clothing. 

B R.  M Crockery. 

B &  K Mnfrs.  Cloth  Caps. 

B &  M Cabinetmkrs. 

B C Liquors. 

B P .....Tailor. 

B T Card  Engraver. 

B G.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Clotli  Caps. 

B J Ret.  Clothing. 

B C.  L Storage,  etc. 

B J Upholsterer. 

II Jeweller. 

M.  L.Ret.  Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

&  Co Paper. 

C Costumes. 

J Mer.  Tailor. 

W &  L Co. 

B J.  A.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

B &  F Builders. 

L Ret.  Clothing. 

A.  W Lumber. 

W.  H. . Liquors. 

M Co. 

F , Gro. 

E.  S  Stationery. 

M.  Y.  &Co Gro. 

&  R Imps.  Laces. 

13 C.  C Roofer. 

B J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

B F.  A.  &  Co Hardware,  etc. 

B H &  L .  .Sugar  Refiners. 

B L Ret.  B.  and  S. 

B E.  G.  &  Co Flour  and  Grain. 

B E Ret.  Meat. 

B W.  L Ret.  Hats,  Caps, 

Furs,  etc. 

—  J Deskmkr. 

B &  McC . . .  .Com'n  Grain  and 

Flour. 
B J Carpenter. 


B Mme.  E.  E Millinery. 

B F.  M.  &  Co Carriage  Uphol- 
stery. 

B G.  W.  &  F.  A Furniture  and 

Express. 

B A.  S Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

B R Oysters. 

B T Liquors. 

B R.  &  W Jewellers. 

B G.  L Ret.  Clothing. 

II Carriages. 

D Lamps. 

T Old  Iron. 

&  P Sewing  Machines. 

P Raw  Silks. 

R Gro. 

G.  A Paints. 

R.  T.  &Co Patent  Metallic 

White  Wire. 
J Leather. 

&  J ,  Agents  for  R Bros. 

B E.  &Co Timber. 

B J.  A Jeweller. 

B A.  T Com'n  Paper. 

B E Imp.  Crockery. 

B M.  J Liquors. 

B W.  R.,  Estate  of Stoves. 

B &  Co Drugs. 

B &  H Builders'  Hardware. 

B &  J Paper. 

B C Soap,  etc. 

B G.  W Livery  Stables. 

B J.  C Coal. 

B P Coal. 

B R Woodenware,  etc. 

B &  L . .  .Mnfrs.  Straw  Goods. 

B C Shoe  Findings. 

B C.  A Drugs. 

B J.  C Engraver. 

B A.  K.  &  P .  .Mnfrs.'  Agents, 

etc. 

B Mrs.  C Ret.  Men's  Furu'g. 

B E.  W. Painter. 

B F.  J Liquors. 

B J.  J Ret,  Clothing. 

B M Tailor. 

B W.  P Mineral  Waters. 

B Bros.  &  Co Bitters. 

M Builder,  etc. 

J.  B Stables. 

A D.G. 

E.  C Pictures. 

T Ret.  D.  G. 

L.  F.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Gold 

Chains,  etc. 
.  G R.  E.  Broker. 

A.  M.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

&  B Feathers. 

W &  Co Coal. 

V &Co Pianofortes. 


186 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGEXCIES. 


C H.  C Plumber. 

C A.  F.  &  Co Iron  Founders. 

C A.  F.  &  H.  C..Wood  Pavements. 

C C Liquors. 

C J Ret.  Hats. 

C C Jobber  Straw  Goods. 

•  G.  A Butcher. 

H Ironworker. 

Co. 

P &  Co Linens. 

P Mnfr.  Hats. 

J.  T.  &  Co.  .Mnfrs.  Trimmings. 

C &  B Cotton  Goods. 

C A.  J Iron  Founder. 

C J Liquors. 

C S Drugs. 

C E.  &  Son Com'n  Prod. 

C S.  L Gro. 

C &  S Builders'  Materials. 

C A.  T Books. 

C M Ret.  Clothing. 

C L Imp.  Wines. 

H Wines  and  Liq. 

D  .  .China,  Glass  and  Crockery. 

H.  T Stock  Broker. 

S. Millstones  and  Bolting:  Cloth. 

&  Y Ship  Brokers. 

T.  J Distiller. 

&  S Gro. 

•W.  S Banker. 

S.  &  Co California  Wines. 

C F Com'n  Woollens. 

J Looking-Glasses. 

D Iron. 

Grain  Broker. 

Baskets. 

Patent  Sash 

Fastenings. 
, .  .Coal  and  Feed. 

Prod. 

C A Iron  Pipe,  etc. 

C J Carpet  Weaver. 

C W Hides  and  Tallow. 

C &  R . .  .Com'n  Foreign  D.  G. 

C T Liquors. 

C A.  H Jobber  D.  G. 

C A.  L Stat'y  and  Fancy  G. 

C J.  H.  &  Co Oils. 

C J.  F.  &  Son Tailors. 

C T Liquors. 

C L Pickles,  etc. 

C W.  II Gen'l  Com'n. 

C W.  A Auctioneer. 

C E.  R Ret.  D.  G. 

C &  Co Imps.  Teas. 

C &  Co '. Silverplaters. 

C F Tailor. 

C J Electrotyper. 

C J.  H Liquors, 

C R.  C Auctioneer. 

C J..  .Imp.  Toys  and  Fancy  Goods. 


C Peddlers'  Supplies. 

Mrs.  II.  J. .  .Ladies'  Underwear. 

J Pawnbrokers'  Goods. 

W.  J Fruit  Broker. 

H.  &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

J Builder. 

J Pawnbrokers'  Goods. 

A.  V.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

S.  A.  &Co..  .Com'n  Smallwares. 
J.  &  Co Imps,  and  Dealers 

Teas. 

R.  B R.  R.  Contractor. 

C Reflectors. 

M Shipping  and  Com'n. 

J.  F , . . .  .Liquors. 

P Ret.  Liquors. 

E.,  B &  Co. .  .Shipping  and 

Com'n  Wines  and  Prod. 

J.  M.  &  Co Shipping  and 

Com'n  Prod. 

&  D Mnfrs.  Shirts. 

&  B Agents  French  and 

Italian  Prod. 

P Co. 

S Co Slates. 

Pickles,  etc. 

O.  M Sewing  Machine  At- 
tachments. 

B.  S .Com'n  Prod. 

&  Co .  Shipping  and  Com'n  Prod. 

&  C Whol.  Liquors. 

H.  &  G. R.  R.  Supplies. 

S M Co. 

&  Co R.  R.  Contractors. 

M Co Mnfrs.  Frames. 

A.  &  W.  &  Bro Lumber,  etc. 

'W Stoves  and  Tin. 

&  T . . .  .Stat'y  and  Printers. 

R.  P Bolting  Cloths. 

M.  W Furniture. 

T.  B Ship  Broker. 

F.  B.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Jewelry. 

W.  L.  &  Co Machinery. 

&  P Printers. 

A Artificial  Flowers. 

F.  C Liquors. 

Bros Chairs  and  Cradles. 

J.  &  Co Com'n  Tobacco. 

&  Co Com'n  Whiskey. 

J.  W.  &K.  &Co Whol. 

Fancy  Goods. 

M.  L Ret.  D.G. 

E.  T.  &  Co Wholesale  & 

Retail  Teas. 

D Mason  and  Builder. 

J.  S Real  Estate,  etc. 

J Stages. 

W Hardware. 

&C Whol.  Hats. 

J.  J.  &  Son Bankers. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


1ST 


A.  &  Co Whol.  B.  and  S. 

D.  T Crockery,  etc. 

A.  S Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G.  M Machinery  Agent. 

.  B Ret.  D.G. 

E Pearl  Buttons. 

W.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

•  D Florist. 

D Painter. 

H Liquors. 

J.  B '. Teas. 

J.  M Wagonmaker. 

T.  H Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

A.  &  Co Grain. 

-D.  W.  &  J.  D Twines. 

C D &  Co Bankers. 

C J.  A.  &  Son Tailors. 

C L.  S.  &  Co Jobber  Fancy 

Goods. 

W.  S.  &  Co Live  Stock. 

&  H Coffee  and  Spices. 

&  T Horse  Nails. 

A.  N Shipping  and  Com'n. 

&  C .Mnfrs.  Lace  Goods,  etc. 

&  B Imps.  Laces,  etc. 

A Ship  and  Freight  Broker. 

C &  K Wines,  etc. 

C J Cotton  and  Cotton  Waste. 

C M Liquors. 

C T Bluestone. 

C &  S Paper. 

C &  W Mdse.  Brokers. 

C A Wines,  etc. 

C O.  B Dollar  Store. 

C H Liquors. 

C E P Co Plating. 

C M Coal. 

C &  S Coal. 

C E.  H Whol.  Liquors. 

C J.  W. . . : Paperhangings. 

C A.  II Paper. 

C O.  B Liquors. 

C J.  W.. Builder. 

C E.  P Job  Printer. 

C T.  J.  &  Son Hotel. 

C A.  M Prod.,  etc. 

C &  V Com.  Prod. 

C B.  L Mnfr.  Neckties. 

C J Ret.  Clothing. 

C J Jobber  Clothing. 

C L.  M Toys,  Stat'y,  and 

Fancy  G. 

C M Millinery. 

C S.  A Whol.  Clothing. 

C S Jobber  Cloths. 

C B.  &  Co. .  .Jobbers  Clothing  and 

Fancy  Goods. 

C Bros Whol.  Jewelry. 

C I.  &  S .  .Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 

C A Tobacco. 

C Mrs.  C Jobber  Ribbons. 


-  D.  L . .  Imp.  Gloves  and  Fancy  G. 

-  L.  H Painter. 

-  S Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  S Ret.  Clothing. 

-S Ret.  D.  G. 

-W Ret.  Clothing. 

-  J.  &  Son Peddlers'  Supplies. 

-  A.  &  T Jobbers  Flowers. 

-I.  P Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

-  J.  R Tinware. 

-  R.  F.  &  Co Type-Founders. 

-  &  C Veneers. 

..&  V Marble. 

-  J.  B.  &  Co Gold  and  Stock 

Brokers. 

-&S Coal. 

-J.  W Wines  and  Liq. 

-  F.  A Trees,  etc. 

-  &  S Printers. 

-  G.  G Ship  Chandler. 

-  S &  O R.  R.  Cont'rs. 

.  G S Co. 

.  I Co. 

-  Mrs.  R Ret.  Fancy  G. 

-  W.  A Piano  H'ware. 

-C.  B.  &Co Coal. 

-  S.  M...: Whol.  Gro. 

-  E.  A.  &  Co. Brokers. 

-  C Baker. 

-  C Wines,  Cigars,  etc. 

-  C Iron  and  Steel. 

C.  W Butcher. 

-  C Co. 

-  D Flour  Broker. 

J Looking-Glasses. 

- Patent  Fire-Proof 

Roofers. 

A Carpenter. 

F Liquors. 

&  Co Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

I.  B Cigars. 

J.  T Mason. 

J.  A.  &  Son Kindling- Wood 

and  Children's  Carriages. 
V.  &  Co Iron  Founders. 

Co.  of  Maryland. 

-  &  Co Lumber  Storage. 

-  F Ironworker. 

-N Umbrellas. 

-  R &  Co Sugar  Refiners. 

-  &  B Whol.  Liquors. 

-  &  C Stone. 

E.  P Shades. 

E.  P.  &  Co Brooms. 

J.  &  Co Hotel. 

&  A Botanic  Meds. 

O Music. 

0.  H.  &Co Gro. 

.  H.  P Mer.  Tailor. 

W.  B.  &  Co.  .Brokers  Hemp  and 
Jute. 


188 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


C &  W Builders. 

C J.  &  F Mahogany. 

C J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

C H.  W Prod. 

C F.  &  J.  &  Co Red  Cedar. 

D Hats  and  Caps. 

3.  &Bro A.  Fur  Co. 

J Restaurant. 

J.  E Wireworker. 

&  Co Cotton  Brokers. 

Bros Ret.  D.  G.,  etc. 

U Furnaces. 

-  Co Mnfrs.  Insect  Powder. 

-M.  &Co Oils. 

-  R.  &  Co Job  Printers. 

-  &  Co Shipping  and  Com'n. 

-  &  S Liquors. 

-  M.  &  Co Cotton  Dealers. 

-  &  Co ....    Liquors. 

-  F.  W.  &  Co Hops  and  Essen- 

tial Oils. 

-  A &  Co Storage. 

-  C Stone. 

-  J.  S Ret.  B.  and  S. 

-  B.  F House  Furn V  Goods. 

-  &  H Whol.  Clothing. 

-  J.  O Imp.  Lace  Collars,  etc. 

-  G.  A .Mnf  r.  Ink,  etc. 

-  F.  H..E.  I.  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

-  B.  M.  &  Co Furniture. 

-  D Towing. 

.  &  B Oils. 

-  H.  H.  &  Son Plumber's  Ma- 

terials. 

-  B Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

-  Bros Shipping  and  Com'n. 

-  &  Co Coin'n  Foreign  Pickles 

and  Sauces. 

-  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

-  E.  M Jobber  Leaf  Tobacco. 

-  C Co. 

-  G.  II Naval  Stores. 

-  J.  S Com'n  Lumber. 

-G.  M Gro. 

-  A.  M Auctioneer. 

-D Ret.  D.  G. 

-W.  A R.  E.  Broker. 

-  H.  H.  &  Co Mdse.  Brokers. 

-  &  K Mnfrs.  Hats. 

-H Grain  Broker. 

-  &  B Painters. 

-  T.  J Lumber. 

-  H Hardware. 

-  J.  F Prov.  Broker. 

-  W.  B.  &  Co Advor.  Agents. 

-  J.  S Imp.  Cigars,  etc. 

-  J.  M Architect  and  Builder. 

-W.  H.  &  Bro.  ..Com'n  Hardware. 

-  J Mason  and  Builder. 

-L.  N Builder. 

-  &  R . . .  . .  .Painters. 


C J Contractor. 

C &  Bro Mnfrs.  Mats. 

C J.  &  Co Oil  Brokers. 

C &  A M Co. ...  Ammonia. 

C F Liquors. 

C T Smoker  and  Packer  Prov. 

C &  W Plaster  Moulds. 

C A Millinery. 

C J.  W Carpets,  etc. 

C B &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

C J Mnfr.  Wire  Goods. 

C R.  &  J Contractors. 

C &  Co Mnfrs.  Lace  Goods. 

C H.  A.  &  Co Imps,  and  Com'n 

Liquors,  etc. 

C M Carriages. 

C J Furniture. 

C J Iron. 

C &  S California  Wines. 

C &  B Printers. 

C J Liquors. 

C H.  E Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

C £  S Coal. 

A.  W Children's  Carriages. 

L. . .  .Imp.  Wines  and  Brandies. 

E.  G Ret.  Clothing. 

S.  S Ret.  Clothing. 

M Co Silks. 

W.  H Paints,  etc. 

W Coal. 

D J Mnfr.  Head  Nets. 

D R Liquors. 

D D Rags. 

D J Builder. 

D J Coal . 

M.  &Co Coal. 

C Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

J.  N Com'n  Fruit. 

F.  B.  &  Co Forwarders. 

D I.  &  W Mnfrs.  Cloaks,  etc. 

D H.  T.  &  Co Hide  Brokers. 

D J.  &  Son Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

D &  W Drugs. 

D Bros Awnings. 

D J.  &  Son Bookbinders. 

D C.  F Stock  Broker. 

D J.  G Pickles. 

D &  Co.  .Woolen  Mnfrs.  Supplies. 

D J Grain  Broker. 

D &  X Mnfrs.  Clothing. 

D J Ret.  Shoes. 

D J     Ret.  D.  G. 

D W.  M Coal. 

D A.  Sons Prod. 

D Bros.  ..Pipes  and  Leaf  Tobacco. 

D H.  J Clocks. 

D J.  L .Ret.  D.  G. 

D T &  Co Express. 

D H.  J Shipping  and  Com'n. 

D J Ret.  Clothing. 

D J.  S SilkBroker. 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


189 


D J Lumber. 

D J.  B Builder. 

D J.  S Imp.  Liquors. 

I) J.  F Paintings,  etc. 

I) S Watches. 

D S Bells,  etc. 

]) w.  H Silk  Broker. 

D W Ret.  Liquors. 

D A.  G.  &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

D F &  Co.  .Jobbers  Millinery. 

D A.  Sons Prod. 

D T.  R Printer. 

D E.  &  Son Coaches. 

D F &  Co Mnfrs.  Locks. 

D II &  S Drugs. 

D &  B . . .  .Petroleum  Brokers. 

D &  M Com'n  Prod. 

D F.  W Syrups  and  Sugars. 

D J.  M Whol.  Jewelry. 

1) 'W Ret.  D.  G. 

D F.  P Prod.  Dealer. 

1) C.  A.  &  Co Confec. 

D B.  H Furniture. 

I) E.  &  Co Imps.  Laces. 

D G.  H Com'n. 

D A.  B Blindmkr. 

D W.  II T.ea  Broker. 

D Bros Pianofortes. 

D L.  &  Co..Mnfrs.  Billiard  Tables. 

D &  Bro Pianos. 

D &  S Com'n  Meats. 

S Shipping  and  Com'n. 

G.  &  Co. . .  .Mnfrs.  Drugs,  etc. 
J.  .C.  F Military  Goods. 

G '. Builder. 

F California  Wines. 

A.  B Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

W Furniture. 

-D A Stationery. 

D &  B Mnfrs.  Hair  Goods. 

D J.  A.  &  Co. .  .Imitation  Jewelry. 

D &  Co. Mnfrs.  Soap. 

D C.  S Note  Broker. 

D L Shipping  and  Com'n. 

D D ." Pawnbroker. 

D Mrs.  M Milliner  and  Dress- 

mkr. 

D J.  O Jeweller. 

D A.  T.  &  Co Carriages. 

D &  Co Shoe  Findings. 

D E.  L • Fashions. 

D M.  E Jewelry. 

D W.  J Publisher. 

D A Ret.  D.  G. 

D A.  &  Co Imps.  Books. 

D G Horse-Shoe  Co. 

D M &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

D M &  Co Upholsterers. 

D L Wine  Broker. 

D Bros Cabinetmkrs. 


D C.  H Stock  Broker. 

A.  W Drug  Broker. 

J.  H Hair  Goods. 

. . .  .Leaf  Tobacco. 

R.  &  II Cabinetmkrs. 

Fancy  Goods. 

S.  &  Co Real  Estate. 

D L.  G Tailor. 

D J.  .Com'n  Brooms,  Brushes,  etc. 

D C Contractor. 

D J Drugs. 

D H.  &  Co Clothing  and  Liq. 

D C Baker. 

D J.  &  Co Printers. 

D &  M Drug  Brokers. 

D J Harness. 

D M Secondhand  Clothing. 

D B.  S Diamond  Broker. 

D &  R Artificial  Flowers. 

D C Confec. 

&  M Sugar  Refiners. 

E Hardware. 

B Mnfrs.  Silk  Hats. 

A.  S Bluestone. 

&  T Hardsvare. 

Liquors. 

D J.  H.  &  Co.  Com'n  Domestic  D.  G. 

D H.  E ; Knit  Goods. 

D G. . .  .Stoves  and  House  Furn'g. 

D J Painter. 

D &  T Chronometers. 

.Jobber  Millinery,  etc. 
Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

H.  &Co Pie  Bakers. 

D J Wheelwright. 

D P Shoe  Uppers. 

D G.  S ...Mason. 

D M.  J Ice  Cream,  etc. 

D H.  R.  &  Co.  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

D &M Books. 

E.  S.  &  Co. Printers  and  Stat'rs. 
.  &  Co Liquors. 

F.  J Liquors. 

H Hardware. 

Pianoforte  Materials. 
N Tailor. 

D H.  W °'. .  .Stock  Broken 

D F.  R Butter. 

D &  H Jewellers 

D Bros Lithographers. 

D W.  &  Co. .  .Shipping  and  Com'n 

Flour  and  Grain. 

D J.  Jr.  &  Co Cigars. 

D &  II .  Locksmiths  and  Mnfrs. 

Trunks. 

D J Bagmkr. 

D E.  J Cotton  Broker. 

D L &  Co Bankers. 

D J Coal. 

D J  . .  .  ...  Prod 


190 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


D D.  H Frames. 

D &  Bro. .  .Mnfrs.  Yeast  Powders. 

D H.  B Gen'l  Com'n  Mer. 

D H Cuban  Com'n. 

D C.  D Liquors. 

D &  H Com'n  Prod. 

D Miss  A Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

,D J.  A.  .Ret.  Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

D J Glasscutter. 

D W.  &  Son Coal. 

D &  B Iron  Founders. 

D W.  &  Co Com'n  Fruit. 

A.  Jr Cigars. 

P Butter,  etc. 

Mnfr.  Shoes,  etc. 

&  St.  J Drug  Brokers. 

D Miss  M Ret.  Millinery. 

D H.  R.  &  Co. .  .Buying  and  Ship- 
ping Agents. 
D J. Stoneyard. 

5.  M . .  Com'n  Foreign  and  Do- 
mestic Rubber  Goods. 

F.  N Com'n  Tobacco. 

Mrs.  P.  G Ret.  Hats. 

.  E.  T Ret.  D.  G. 

D &  R Undertakers'  Goods. 

D F Tassels. 

D B.  J Cabooses. 

D H.  L Gro. 

3.  &  Co California  Wines. 

J.  G.  &  Co. .  Mnfrs.  Cream  Tartar. 

Teas,  Coffees,  etc. 

-  &  A Fancy  Gro. 

F.  T Jewelry. 

E Ret.  Millinery. 

D M.  J Fancy  Goods. 

D B.  A Jobber  Fancy  Goods. 

D J Liquors. 

D J.  ..S.  Am.  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

D U.  H.  &  Co Canned  Fruits. 

D J.  E Mineral  Waters. 

D J.' Mnfr.  Suits. 

D T Builder. 

D Mrs.  O D.  G. 

D P.  C Baker. 

D &  O'S Com'n  D.  G. 

D &  H Roofers. 

D &  C .  ..Architects  and  Build- 
ers. 

D J.  F Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

D J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Boxes. 

D S Tailor. 

D &  R Liquors. 

D D.  S Speculator. 

D &  Co.  .Ret.  Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

D A Hay. 

D L.  &  H Ranges. 

D A Com'n  Cotton. 

D C Com'n. 

D J. .  .Cuban  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

D E Tin  Toys. 


D A.  &  Son Lumber. 

D £  G Hay,  etc. 

D W.  M.  &  Co Cutlery. 

D J.,  Estate  of. . .  .Printer  and  Sta- 
tioner. 

D T.  N Packing  Boxes. 

D Bros Teas. 

D &  C Real  Estate. 

E M W Co. 

E E Liquors. 

E J Corsets. 

E M Co Crockery. 

E G.  &  Co Cabinetmakers. 

E L Hotel  and  Liq. 

Co. 

K &  Co Bankers  and 

Brokers. 

&  W 1 . .  Brewers. 

P.  C Ret.  Fancy  'Goods. 

&  Co Shipping  and  Com'n. 

X Ret.  D.  G. 

Bros Perfumery. 

R &  Co Paper  Boxes. 

&R Coal. 

J Stoves. 

M.  C Patent  Meds. 

W.  A Lighters. 

, - Plumber. 

.M.,  Jr Ret.  D.  G. 

C &  Co Whol.  Liq. 

E M.  &  Son Teas. 

E J.  D Mnfrs.'  Agent. 

J Freight  Broker. 

A.  R Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

Mrs.  M Fancy  Goods. 

I.  D Chemist. 

&  R Mdse.  Brokers. 

-  &  T Ladies'  Cloaks. 

J Ret.  Liquors. 

D.  E .' Oysters. 

W.  &  Co Leaf  Tobacco. 

J.  C.  R.  &Co Glue. 

P Com'n  Trimmings. 

G Brewer. 

I.  .Imp.  Toys  and  Fancy  Goods. 

H.  &Co Shirts. 

E S &  Co Jobbers  Fancy 

Goods. 

E B Ret.  D.  G. 

E H Gilder  and  Silver  Plater. 

E &  W Upholstery. 

E Bros Drugs,  etc. 

E E Rectifier. 

E G L Co. 

E &  Co Jewellers. 

E R.  H Jeweller. 

E R.  &  Co Shirts. 

E W.  M.  &  Co Variety  Store. 

E A Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


191 


E &  G         Roofers. 

E L Mnf r.  Dress  Trim'gs. 

E \V Teas. 

E J.  H.  &  Co Cotton  Brokers. 

E G Clothing. 

E J.  &  Co Oil  Refiners. 

E T.  P.  &  Co Loans  and  Bonds. 

E W.  &  Son Prov. 

E J.  N Glassware. 

E J.  &  J.  W Oysters. 

E J.  W.  &  Co Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

E G.  B.  &  Co Pumps. 

E L.  L Com'n  Silks,  etc, 

E M Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

E E Ret.  D.  G. 

E. E .Prov. 

E B.  &  Co Beef. 

E J Imp.  French  Clocks. 

.Shipping  and  Com'n. 
-B Tailors'  Trim'gs. 

E B.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Shirts. 

E &  M P •  Co. 

E M Jewelry. 

E R.  S Clothing. 

E M Sausagemkr. 

E &  K Jobbers  Trimmings,  etc. 

E J 'Liquors. 

E E.  W., Contractor. 

E J Shoe  Findings. 

E L &  Co Bankers. 

E H.  M.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Boys' 

Clothing. 

E H Tailor. 

E G &  C Co. 

E P Co Canned  Goods. 

E &  G Mnfrs.  Cloaks,  etc. 

E F.  A.  L Mining. 

E II Ret.  Fancy  D.  G. 

E O Men's  Furn'g. 

E R .Restaurant. 

E L Fancy  Goods. 

E L Mnfr.  Metal  Cornices. 

E A Teas,  etc. 

E Bros Silks  and  Ribbons. 

E F.  J Paper  Boxes. 

E J.  W.  &  Co Printers'  Ma- 
terials. 

E Bro3 Fancy  and  Military 

Goods. 

E A.  E Mnfr.  Neckties. 

M Extension"  Tables. 

E G Upholsterer. 

E S Co Counter  Scales. 

E A Com'n  Prod. 

E J.  B Gro. 

E W.  M Carpet  Stretcher,  etc. 

E B &  Co Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

E T.  &  G Cotton  Shipping  and 

Com'n.  i 


E W.  &  Co. . .  Shipping  and  Com'n 

Prod. 

E &  Co Ret.  Clothing. 

E &  G Blankbooks. 

E J Engraver. 

E H.  W Drug  Broker. 

E J Ret.  Liquors. 

E y.  H.  &C Hotel. 

E Bros Stationers. 

E F Doors,  etc. 

J Gro. 

H Whol.  Gro. 

&  T Stock  Brokers. 

C Co R.  R.  Chairs. 

E M Co Coffee  Urns. 

E H Com'n  Teas  and  Coffee. 

F Bros Shipping  and  Com'u 

Cotton. 

F E Dentist. 

F J.  C Paperhangings. 

F J Wood  Enirraver. 

F &  B ^  Yarns. 

F &  J . .  .Stamping  and  Fancy 

Goods. 

F J Furniture. 

F J.  G Liquors. 

F D.  &  Co. . . . . Fwdg.  Agents. 

F A Real  Estate. 

F S Mnfr.  Cigars. 

F G.  &  Bro Mnfrs.   Cigars. 

F M.  &  Co Tobacco. 

F J Gro.  and  D.  G. 

F^ —  G.  W R.  E.  Agent. 

F S Tailor. 

F I Watches,  etc. 

F Miss  A Millinery,  etc. 

F C.  J Stable. 

F R.  G Liquors. 

F C Cabinetmkr. 

F B &  Co Note  Brokers. 

F II.  F Liquors. 

F J Liquors. 

F J Liquors. 

F P Liquors. 

F &  Son Books. 

F M Custom-house  Broker. 

F M.  J.  &  Co Wines. 

F T Furdresser. 

F Bros Saddlers'  Hardware. 

F &  T Auction  Boots  and 

Shoes. 

F J Plumber. 

F T Paperhangings. 

F M Liquors. 

F &  D Marble. 

F J.  H.  &  Son Liquors. 

F I Whol.  Clothing. 

F &  R ..Mnfrs. Woollen  Shirts. 

F M Restaurant. 

F W Co Stationery. 

F &  Co. ..  Com'n  Prod. 


192 


THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


F H.  D Liquors. 

F &  C B House. 

F H.  &  Co Auction  and  Com'n. 

F L.  &  K Collars. 

F G.  L.  &  Co Ret.  Notions. 

F J.  X. .  .Broker  Flour,  Seeds,  etc. 

F J.  B. . .  .Com'n  Flour  and  Grain. 

F I Cattle  Hair. 

F &  S Com'n  Hardware. 

F W.  &  Sons Undertakers' 

Goods. 
&  Co Cuban  Com'n. 


F S.  M Cuban  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

F E Hall. 

F Mine.  J Ret,  Millinery. 

F &  S Liquors. 

F J.  J Flour  and  Feed. 

F E.&  Co Salt. 

F E.  &  Son Ret.  B.  &  S. 

F C.  B Ship  Agent. 

F C Drugs. 

F &  K Havana  Tobacco. 

F B Drugs. 

F H.  &  Co .Rags. 

F J Builder. 

F S Ret.  D.  G. 

F L.  &  Son Chemists. 

F A Imp.  White  Beer. 

F L.  &  E.  H. . .  Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

F F Fancy  Goods. 

F J.  H Glassware. 

F C.  Sons Mnfrs.  Gloves. 

F &  J. Stock  Brokers. 

F A Upholsterers'  Goods. 

F W.  S Note  Broker. 

F G &  Co Tobacco  and 

Cotton. 

F A Ret.  D.  G. 

F J.  J Rubber  Car  Springs. 

F R.  H Furniture. 

F F Wines,  etc. 

F A Imp.  Liquors. 

F C.  E Teas. 

F E Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

F L.  &  Co Artificial  Flowers. 

F &  L Peddlers'  Supplies. 

F W.  B ,  Liquors. 

F J.  F Plumber. 

F M Men's  Furn  V. 

F G.  M Shipping  and  Com'n. 

F B Co Roofing,  etc. 

F M Rhine  Wines. 

M A . 

F C Liquors. 

F W.  H.  A Petroleum  Broker. 

F J.  &  Co. Mouldings  and  Frames. 

F &  R . . .  .Curtain  Ornaments. 

F W.  L Hotel. 

F T.  B.  &  Co Guns,  etc. 


F E.,  Agent Jewelrv. 

F M Mnfr.  Silk  Trim'gs. 

F C.  J.  &  Co Liquors. 

F J.  W. .  .Ornamental  Iron  Woik. 

F X Fancy  D.  G. 

F Dr.  S.  S Patent  Meda. 

F E.  A.  &  Son Feed. 

F &  B Com'n  Prod. 

F J Ret.  Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

F J Horseshoer. 

F &  H ..  .Mnfrs.  Watch  Cases. 

F &  Co Pasting  Machines. 

F &  H Com'n  Southern 

Prod. 

F D.  J Crockery. 

F C.  H Rubber  Goods,  etc. 

F £  B Furniture,  etc. 

F A.  F Crockery. 

F H Ret.  Hal's. 

F S Men's  Furn'g  Goods. 

F A Books  and  Stat'v. 

F S.  D Ret.  Hat*. 

F W Gro. 

F A.  &  D.  &  Co Imps.  Funcy 

Goods. 

F C Painter. 

F J.  W Cooperage. 

F Bros Imps.  Kid  Gloves  and 

Laces. 

F B Liquors. 

F M Liquors. 

F S M Co. 

F J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

F P.  F Gro. 

F M Dressmaker. 

F E Cotton. 

F W.  S Bedding. 

F W.  S.  &  Bro Bedding. 

F J Mnfr.  Gold  Pens. 

F M.  W. . .  .Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

F P Restaurant. 

F C Guns,  Pistols,  Caps,  etc. 

F M Com'n  Prod. 

F F Builder. 

F A.  G Drugs. 

F R.  H Broker,  etc. 

F D Com'n  Hats. 

F J.  J Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

F P Jewelry,  etc. 

F F.  &  Co Jobbers  Hats. 

F R.  B.  &  Co Cotton  Brokers. 

F C,  B.  &  Son Leather. 

F J.  &  Sons Paper  Stock. 

F G.  F Spool  Cotton. 

F Mrs.  J Ret.  D.  G. 

F C.  F.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

F &  H Jobbers  F'cy  G. 

F J.  Sons Com'n  W.  I.  Prod. 

F F Co. 

F A.  E Builder. 

F J.  A.  &  Co Wool  Brokers. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


193 


F G.  W Drugs. 

F C.  R.  &  Bro Imps.  Rice. 

F II Mnfr.  Shoes. 

F I. .  .Mnfr.  Cloth  Hats  and  Caps. 

F C.  Son  &  Co. .  Mnf rs.  Hats,  Caps, 

etc. 

F G.  W.  &  Co Com'n  Carpets. 

F &  F Cotton  and  Prov. 

Brokers. 

F &  W Iron  Founders. 

F J.  R.  &  Co Imps.  Woollens. 

F D.  G Bookseller. 

F A &  Co Cotton. 

F H Ret.  Shoes. 

F J Ret.  Clothing. 

F J Whol.  Clo. 

F L.  J Gold  Broker. 

F L.  &  Son Jobber  Shirts. 

F M.  M Mnfr.  White  Goods. 

F S D.  G.,  etc. 

F S Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

F S Leaf  Tobacco. 

F B &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

F L.  II.  £  Co.  .Printers and Pub'rs. 

F &  K . . .  .Mufrs.  and  Jobbers 

Shirts. 

F &  K Liquors. 

F M Cigars. 

F L Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

F &  W .Jobbers  White  Goods. 

F L  ,  Jr Tailor. 

F B Mnfr.  Lace  Goods. 

F C Co.  of  W ,  Pa. 

F B.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Clock  Cases. 

F — —  J Oyster  Saloon. 

F Bros Shipping1  and  Com'n. 

F &  Co Watchmkrs.'  Tools. 

F J.  W Military  Goods. 

F F Billiard  Tables. 

F T.  A  Furu. 

F Mrs Whol.  Ladies'  Goods. 

F J Mnfr.  Shirt  Bosoms. 

F M D.  G.  Broker. 

F B &  Co Whol.  Clo. 

F L.  N.  &  Co Cotton  Brokers. 

F F Whol.  Jewelry. 

F E.  F.  Mnfg.  Co Sewing-Ma- 

chine  Cases. 

F G.  P.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n,  etc. 

F S.  &  Son Publishers. 

F F Gro. 

F N Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

F J.  A Ret.  Clothing. 

F M.  H Tobacco. 

F T.  Son Enamelled  Cloth. 

F Bros.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

F C Liquors. 

F L Tailor. 

F I Tobacco. 

F S Clothing. 

F H ...Tailor. 


F 0.  O Com'n  Liquors. 

F .  S Whol.  Jewelry. 

F &  0 Leaf  Tobacco. 

F &  W -. . .  .Mnfrs.  Felt  Skirts. 

F &  L • Cutlery. 

F S Mnt'r.  Ladies'  Garments. 

F E.  &  G.  &  Co Tobacco. 

F B Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

F •  I Imp.  Jewelry. 

F &  McH Jobbers  Notions. 

F R &  S Leaf  Tobacco. 

F •  R.  ..Shipping  and  Com'n  Italian 

Prod. 

F -  Bros. Stoves. 

F C.  &  Sons Stamping. 

F M Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

F •  T Drugs. 

F—  W.  T. .  .Mnfr.  Pocketbooks,  etc. 

F •  H Livery  Stables. 

F K &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

F— S Ret.  D.  G. 

F J.  &  Son Turner  and  Canes. 

F &  W Sewing  Machines. 

F C.  M Imp.  Toys. 

F &  T Mustard  Mills. 

F H.  C Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

G J Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

G C.  L '. Paper  Boxes. 

G I.  B Ship  Broker. 

G E.  &  Co Coal. 

G M Morocco. 

G T Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G B.  &  A. .  .Mnfrs.  Ladies'  Under- 
garments. 

G F M Co. . .  .Electric  Ma- 
chines. 

G H Crockery,  etc. 

G J.  J Liquors. 

G M Ret.D:  G. 

G S.  M Whol.  Ctothing. 

G Bros Ret..  D.  G. 

G B Gro. 

G W.,  Estate  of Iron. 

G Mrs.  W Hotel. 

G T .Ret.  D.  G. 

G J. .  .Imp.  Watches  and  Jewelry. 

G J Hotel. 

G M Contractor. 

G P" &  S .  .Military  Goods. 

G Mrs.  E .Milliner.. 

Mrs.  C.  A. . . .' Corsets. 

W.  H.  &  C Carpenters. 

"  Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

Stoves,  etc. 

G E Broker. 

G G Imp.  Photo.  Materials. 

G H Furs. 

G E Mer.  Tailor. 

G J.  W Stock  Speculator. 

.  E.  &  Co.  ..Mnfrs.  Perfumery. 

N.  G Hardware,  etc. 


THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


G F.  &  J Dutch  Cheese. 

G Bros California  Wines  and 

Brandies 

G J.  G Liquors. 

G A W Co. 

G T &  C Iron. 

G J Imp.  Trimmings. 

G T.  F K.  E.  and  Ins.  Agent. 

G F.  C Furniture. 

G &  G Glassware. 

(i J Jeweller. 

G J Lithographer. 

G-! W.  Jr Saddlery. 

G W.  H.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

G J.  L Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

G &  B M Co. 

G &  Co Plaster. 

G J.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

G B Hardware. 

G D Paperhangings. 

G M.  T Pickles,  etc. 

G D Mnfr.  Spectacles. 

G W.W.  .Whol.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G J Carpenter. 

G &  P Bonnet  Bleachers. 

G J.  A.  Jr Umbrellas. 

G C E &  S House. 

G J.  B Wine. 

G J Jobber  Cloths. 

G W.  H.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

G G.  A.  &  Co ...  Com'n  Wines,  etc. 

G Co Soap. 

G M.  &  J Imps.  Linen. 

G J.  &  Sons.  Jobbers  Fancy  Goods. 

G A Ret.  Shoes. 

G &  Son Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G R.  W..Steam-Engines,  Boilers, 

etc. 

G McL &  Co.  .Linen  Handker- 
chiefs. 

G J.  C.  &  Co. .. Jobbers F'cy Goods. 

G R Mnfr.  Shoes. 

G &  T Cotton  Brokers. 

G A.  E ^.Broker  H'ware,  etc. 

G E.  A Wines  and  Liq. 

G &  B Corks. 

G &  Co. . . : Mnfrs.  Silk  Hats. 

G G.  W Liquors. 

G S.  &Co.. Whol.  Furs. 

G H Co.  Furnaces  and  Heaters. 

G P Optician. 

G &  G Liquors. 

G A Mnfr.  Flowers. 

G £  R Photographs. 

G H.  N.  J IVJnfr.  Shirt  Fronts. 

G Bros Cloaks,  etc, 

G T.  A Stationer. 

G R Crockery. 

G S.  &  Co Tobacco. 

G J Hats  and  Caps. 

G M Fancy  Goods. 


W. 


G S Cigars. 

G H.  &  Co Clothing. 

G S.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Neckties. 

G &  B Mnirs.  Ladies' 

Trimmed  Hats. 

G P Pawnbroker. 

G &  Bro Whol.  Clothing. 

G H Cotton  Broker. 

G A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  and  Imps. 

Swiss  Embroideries. 

G &  A Imps.  Fruit,  Wines, 

etc. 

Mnfr.  Feather  Dusters. 
. .  Shipping  and  Com'n 
Flour,  Grain,  etc. 
. . .  .Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

G Bros Whol.  Liquors. 

G B Mnfr.  Collars  and  Cuffs. 

G H Jobber  Cloths. 

G J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G M Butcher. 

G F Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G C.  T.  &  Sons. .  .Cracker  Bakers. 

G J.  &  Co Paper. 

G I R H P Co. 

G A.  D Com'n  and  Agent. 

G &  S Ret.  D.  G. 

G S &  Co Mnfrs.  Hats. 

G S.  D Findings. 

G J Com'n  Cement. 

G S.  A.  &Co Drugs. 

G &  Co Iron  Foundry. 

G J Artificial  Flowers. 

G L.  G Pub'r  Books. 

G F.  T Perfumer. 

G J.  S Tobacco. 

G F Jobber  White  Goods. 

G C Saddler. 

G J.  F Ret.  Shoes. 

G T Gro. 

G T Painters'  Supplies. 

G J.  &  Son Mnfrs.  Bindings. 

G A P Co. 

G C Liquors. 

G H € W . 

G H Restaurant. 

G D.  H Sulphur. 

G M Flour  Dealer. 

G R Gro. 

G &  P Plumbers. 

G H &  Co. . .  .Mnfrs.  Jewelry. 

G G Builder. 

G G.  B Com'n  Flour. 

G I.H Tailor. 

G ••  J.  C Hardware. 

G S.  W Printer. 

G A.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

|  G Bros Cotton  Brokers. 

I  G J.  A.  &  Co. .  .R.  R.  Contractors. 

j  G P I M Co. 

i  G S.  H Hats. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


195 


G D Furs. 

G X &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

G &  R Ret,  Fancy  Goods. 

G R Ret.  Clothing. 

G G.  G Carpenter. 

G J   Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G C Silk  Dyer. 

G H Tailor. 

G F.  J Cabinetmkr. 

G H.  A Fruits  and  Gro. 

G J.  L.  &  Co Gro. 

G M.  F Liquors. 

(« R Ladies'  Undergarments. 

G &  W .  .Safety  Boiler  Works. 

G &  F Builders. 

G S.  M Mnfr.  Gold  Pens,  etc. 

G C.  E.  &  Co.  ...Imps.  E.  I.  Goods. 

G F.  D.  &  Co Painters. 

G G Millinery. 

G J Brewer. 

G M Brewer. 

G &  McL Com'n  Prod. 

G A Mnfr.  Woollen  Shirts. 

G M Mnfr.  Fancy  Furs,  etc. 

G W   &  Co Cabinet  Materials. 

G &  Co Sewing-Machine  At- 
tachments. 

(i F.  &  Co Ivory  Turners. 

G E Lighters. 

G J.  P. . . '. Scales. 

G R.  &  Bro Jobbers  Hosiery. 

(} J.  E.  &  Co Flags,  etc. 

(J &  K.    Hardware. 

G J.  II Telegraph. 

G S D.  G. 

G G.  G.  &  Co Patent  Meds. 

G K.  J Carriages. 

G &  Son Ironworkers. 

G &  F Stoves. 

G J Fancy  Goods. 

G P Mnfr.  Lace  Goods. 

G Mrs.  M.  L.  &  Co Printing 

Presses. 

G P.  &  Co Com'n  Cotton. 

G J.  F.  J Iron  Foundry. 

G M.  G Stoves. 

G Bros Drugs. 

G C.  G.  &  Co Furs. 

G &  S Jobbers  Cloth. . 

G G.  B Suspenders. 

G &  Co R.  R.  Ties,  etc. 

G F.  W Carriage  Painter. 

G E Builder. 

G &  C . .  ..Picture  Frames,  etc. 

G J . . .  .   Lager  Beer. 

G Mrs.  J Milliner. 

G J Clothing. 

G C.  B Corn'n  Cotton. 

G S.  A Imp.  Gloves. 

G &  Co Builders. 

G E Tin  Cans. 


G G Carriages, 

H A Coal. 

H &  Co Bankers. 

H N Builder. 

H D.  Sons Imps.  Silk. 

H &  B .  .Imps.  German  Wines. 

H I.,  F &  Co Whol.  D.  G. 

H J.  W Manfr.  Fireworks. 

H C.  L Hardware. 

H H.  C Crockery. 

II W Crockery. 

H H.  &  T Hote'1. 

H &  B Gold  and  Specie 

Brokers. 

H F Tailor. 

H &  Co Oils. 

H J.  G Confec. 

H I.  H Mnfr.  Cigars. 

H L Tailor. 

H J.  &  Son Ret.  Clothing. 

H &  B Imps.  Cameo. 

H V Oil  Paintings. 

H &  K Stone. 

H T Corsets. 

II H.  M Jewelry. 

H C.  &  Co Com'n  Flour. 

H G.  L.  &  L.. Bankers  and  Brokers. 

H Bros Pianofortes. 

H S Fruits. 

H &  O Furniture. 

H F Glass  Signs. 

H H.  W Com'n  Chairs. 

H J.  M. .  .Shoe-Pegs,  Lastings  and 

Gorings. 

H B.  E.  &  Co.  ..Printed  Wrapping 

Paper. 

H C.  B R.  E.  Agent. 

H Mrs.  E Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

H H.  P Butcher. 

H J.  H Agent  and  Com'n. 

H R  W Ret.  Hats. 

II S Ret.  Clothing. 

H T Mnfr.  Head  Nets. 

H C.  H.  &  Co.  ..Steam  Pumps,  etc. 

H C.  &J Gro. 

H £  F Balloon  Hanging 

Baskets. 

II F.  E Mnfr.  Neckties. 

H S.E Stationer. 

H L Feathers. 

H G.  G Stoves. 

H A.  T ...Hotel. 

H W •.  .Millinery,  Hats,  etc. 

H J Marble. 

H T.  B Com'n  Prod. 

H M Hotel. 

H P B &  C Co.Mnfrs. 

Rubber  Watchcases. 

H M Co Tinware. 

H J.  C Carriages. 

H J.  H Gro. 


196 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


Chromos. 

Coal. 

Framemkrs. 

. .  .Ret.  Clothing. 
Trunks. 

Stationer. 

, . .  Mnf  r.  Brooms. 

-  J.  G.  &  Co Jobbers  Teas. 

-  P &  Co Mnfrs.  Shoes. 

-  S.  Sons Printers. 

-  &  C Cotton. 

-  &  T — - Ret.  D.  G. 

-  L.  &  Co Watch  Materials. 

-  B Ret.  Hats. 

-II Leather. 

-A Gro. 

-  J.  W Steamboats. 

-T Liquors. 

-  M &  Co.  .Com'n  Chemicals. 

-  T Liquors. 

-  C.  H '.. .  Wool  and  Hops. 

-  &  Co Sugar  and  Molasses. 

&D Prod. 

-  J. .  Moulding  and  Planing  Mill. 
G.  D Tailor. 

-A Embroideries. 

-  T.  L Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

-  H Pianofortes. 

-  M.  J.  &  Co.. Com 'n  Whiskey,  etc. 
P.  &  Co Oars,  Sculls,  etc. 

-  S Whol.  Clothing. 

&  Co Tailors. 

W Builder. 

'G.  P Hotel. 

I Secondhand  Furn. 

E.  R Coal. 

-  F Liquors. 

&  B Safes. 

C.  W Music- 

-  F.  G Clothing. 

J Painter. 

-  J Clothing. 

L Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

-  M Peddlers'  Supplies. 

-  M Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 

-P Ret.  Clothing. 

-  S.  M Embroideries. 

A.  W.  &  Co Tobacconists. 

Showcards. 

.Jobbers  Clothing. 
. .  .  Woollen  Rags. 
..Whol.  Clothing. 
Bookbinder. 

-  G Brewery. 

-  H Mnfr,  Jewelry. 

.&  H Tobacco. 

-  G.  K Lumber. 

-  C Lithographer. 

-H Mnfr.  Shirts. 

-  H.  I Planing  Mill. 


H I.  Jr ,  .Clothing. 

H J Imp.  Corsets. 

H P Tobacco. 

H W Liquor?. 

H L.  M Co Silverplated 

Ware. 

H &  Bro Com'n  Prod. 

H &  H Mnfrs,  JXeckties. 

H Bros White  Goods,  Shawls, 

etc. 

H L Hotel 

H W Cigars. 

H &  Co Imps.  Colors. 

H J ....Paints. 

H J Painter. 

H E Driurs. 

H C.  E.  &  Co Imps.  Hair. 

H H.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Tassels. 

H J.  &  Co Ret.  Clothing. 

H W.  A Jobber  Fancy  Goods. 

H &  V Meat. 

H &  Co Mnfrs.  Bags. 

H &  B Stock  Brokers. 

H U Tailor. 

H J.  L Books  and  Stat'v. 

H W Liquors. 

H C.  C Fancy  Goods. 

H A.  L.  &  Co Stoves  "and  Tin- 
ware. 

H L Co. 

H &  Sons Tailors. 

H &  K Mnfrs.  Dress 

Trimmings. 

H J.  P.  &Son Prod. 

H &  F Imps.  Drugs. 

H C.  &  Co Pocket  books. 

H M.  G Cotton  Broker. 

H N Liquors. 

H B Plumber. 

H &  E Sugar  Refiners. 

H G.  G.  &  Co Bankers  and 

Brokers. 

H J.  N Com'n  Lumber. 

H J.  H.  &  Son Lumber. 

H &  C Ret.  Clothing. 

H W.  Jr Bpilder. 

H W Com'n  Flour. 

H C Packer,  etc 

H H.  S Corsets  and  Skirts. 

H A Banker,  etc. 

H J Lithographer. 

H W Linens. 

H A.  &  Co Soap,  Candles,  etc. 

H H Ship  Chandlery. 

H E.  L R.  E.  Broker. 

H P Tailor. 

H T.  E Ink  and  Mucilage. 

H Bros Patent  Skylights. 

H J.  E.  &  Co Com'n  Paper. 

H &  F Printers. 

H C Boots  and  Shoes. 


THE   SYSTEM  EXPOSED. 


197 


H Bros.  &  Co Sponges. 

H C.  &H StabJes. 

H &  Co Com'n  Bedding  Moss. 

H J Ret.  Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

H J.  H Com'n  Prod. 

H K Mnfr.  Cloaks,  etc. 

H C.  H.  &  Co Com'n. 

H T.  S Distillers. 

H &  S Mnfrs.  Jewelry  and 

Emblems. 

II &  Co Paperliangings. 

H C.  P Iron  Railings. 

H &  M Refrigerators. 

H J Gro. 

H J Marble. 

H C.  &Co Ret.  D.  G. 

H M Ret.  D.  G. 

H I Jobber  Linen. 

11 A.  H Stock  Broker. 

II E.  A.  &  Co House  Furn'g. 

H \V.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

II R Coal. 

II &  Co Woodenware. 

II G Ret.  Drugs. 

H H.  B Grain  Broker. 

H J.  H Grain  Broker. 

II J . .  .Jobber  Hosiery. 

H S.  A  Ret.  D.  G. 

H A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Tinware 

H &  M Ret.  D.  G. 

II P.  J Skirt  Materials. 

H- —  R.  Jr Coal  Broker. 

H C.  B.  &  Son Syrups  and 

Molasses. 

H F.  L Furnaces. 

II (} Real  Estate. 

H C Builder. 

II F Kid  Gloves. 

H J.  S Hardware. 

H D.  &  W Jobbers  Cloths. 

H S Ret.  D.  G. 

H &  Son Coal. 

H E Liquors. 

H J Ret.  Clothing. 

II G Com'n  Cotton. 

H &  C E.  I.  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

H &  Z Imps,  and  Com'n  D.  G. 

H F.  S.  &  Co Note  Brokers. 

II J Diamond  Setter. 

H S Fancy  Goods. 

II Mrs.  C Men's  Furn'g. 

II E.  D Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

—  Br  s.  &  Co. . .  .Jobbers  Hosiery. 

II M Laces  and  Embroideries. 

II G Confectionery. 

II J. . . Cabooses. 

H S Sailmaker. 

II H Leather. 

H J Plumber. 

H J.  J.  &  Son Paper. 


H M &  B . .  Jobbers  Hats. 

H &  M Hardware,  etc. 

H M Metals. 

H N.  E Com'n  Prod. 

H W Imps.  Drugs  and  Colors. 

H W.  F Drugs. 

H &  P Ship  Brokers. 

H C Liquors. 

II H.  Jr Leather  and  Findings. 

H &  Co Mnfrs.  Jewellry. 

II E Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

H G.  F Butter. 

H &  N Mnfrs.  Quilts. 

H J.  L.  &  Co Prov. 

H E.  E Liquors. 

H -J.  C Drugs. 

H J.  J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

H &  Van  R .  ...Com'n  Tobacco 

and  Cigars. 

H I Mnfr.  Children's  Clothing. 

etc. 

H S Auctioneer. 

H &  G Butter  and  Cheese. 

H D &  Co S.  Am.  Prod. 

H R &  Co Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

H S.  W Leather. 

H A.  Sons Printers  and  Pub'rs. 

H G Butcher. 

H H Furniture.  , 

H M Cloihing. 

H M.  S Woollen  Rags. 

H N Clothing. 

H F Roofer. 

H A.  C.,  Agt Diamond  Broker. 

H F.  &  Co Cotton  Shipping 

and  Com'u. 

H M Manf.  Lace  Goods. 

H M.  &  Co Imps.  Kid  Gloves. 

H Bros Furs. 

H L.  &  W.  .Watches  and  Jewelry. 

H D.  S Furniture. 

H N Metals. 

H A.  &  Co Whol.  Jewelry. 

H J.  &  Co. .  .  Shippino-  and  Com'n. 

H &H Whol.  D.  G. 

H &  M Publishers. 

H C Imp.  Cigar  Ribbons. 

H H.  L Tailor. 

H J.  L Tailor. 

H I Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

H L Ret.  Clothing. 

H Bros Whol.  Liquors. 

II J.  R Mdse.  Br.ker. 

H M Co Stencil  Dies  and 

Plaies. 

H W.  C.  &  J.  M.  ..Agents  Sewing 

Mac!  lines. 

H E.  S Brass  Founder. 

H A Whol.  Carpets. 

H G.  W...  ...Jeweller. 


108 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES 


-  H  Saloon 

H  B             ....                 Operator 

-  C.  &  Co   Coni'n  Gro. 

H  &  B  .    .  .  .Flour  and  Feed 

-  M  &  Co  Ret.  D.  G. 
-  W   &  Co     D    G 

H  &  C  Flour  and  Feed. 
H  J  Stevedore  and  Liq. 
H  M.  &  Son  Whol   Gro 

-  S.  C  Machinery. 
-  W.  A  Paperhangings  and 
Clothing. 
-  F  Imp.  Teas. 

H  W.  B.  &  Co.  .  .Photo.  Materials. 
H  &  Co                                       Feed 

H  &  L      •                                Metals 

-  R   H           .  .  Imp    Embroideries 

H  L.  &  Co  Whol.  Liquors. 
H          H    N                                       Coal 

_  D     Coal 

-  M  Mnfr.  Trimmings. 
-  Mrs.  T  Ret.  B.  and  S. 
-  C.  &  Co  Wliol.  Liquors 

H  H.  &  Co  Book  Pub'rs 

H  L  V                          Imp    Gloves 

H  &  D  Tobacco 

-  H.  &  Co.  .  .Imps.  Dress  Trim'gs. 
-  B                                  Cloths   etc 

H  H.  O.  &  Co                          Wines 

H          M                  Whol  Fancy  Goods 

-L  &  Co                             Tobacco 

-  &  N  Ship  Chandlers. 

H  Mrs.  A  Ret.  F'cy  Goods. 
H  J  M                          RE  Broker 

-A         .  .                 Patent  Rights 

H  &  Co                          Canned  Fish 

-  B.  W     .        .  .Music  Pub'r  etc 

H  J  D                                  Gro    etc 

-  C.  B  Restaurant 

H  &  D  M  Co  Locks. 
H  &  E  .    .         Cabinetmkrs 

-  F  Ret.  Cigars. 
-  &  T  Imps.  Millinery 

H  C.  &  Co.  Mnfr.   Caps. 
H  B  &  Co  Men's  Furn'g. 
H         J  H                                  Jeweller 

-  G  D                                     Druo-s 

-  J  T                   Com'n  Flour   etc 

H  T.  C.  .  .  .Whol.  Millinery  Goods. 
H  T    B  &  Son        Hay  and  Grain 

&  W  .    .       .           Hatters 

&  C  Mnfrs.  Straw  Hats. 

H  A     .        Imp  Watches 

H  D.  &  Co  Metal  Brokers 

Straw  Goods. 
A.  D  Nickelplating 

H  &  F  Builders. 
H  C.  N.  &  Co  Com'n  Prod 

D  &  Co                   Rubber  Goods 

H          K          &  S                     Boots  and 

W                               Lager  Beer 

Shoes. 
H  W   K  &  Co              Com'n  Prod 

W  C                       Leaf  Tobacco 

C.  C.  M  Human  Hair. 
P           .             .    .     Restaurant 

H          C  H                                     Painter 

H  N  F                   Com'n  HODS   etc 

C.    .  .         Real  Estate 

H  J.  &  Co.  Com'n  Flour  and  Grain. 
H  M  Co  Machines 

J.  M  Musical  Insts. 
M.  &  Co  Bedding 

H  C.  B  Printer. 

J.  E  Shipjoiner. 

H  M.  H  Iron  Railing. 

W.  &  Co  Iron. 

H  W.  R  Pliotoorapher. 

H.  &  Co  Com'n  F.  Gro. 

H  &Co  Silverplated  Ware. 

C                                              Hall  , 

H          &  Co                                  Bankers 

C  F   L                        Ret  Druo-s 

H  F.  &  H  Com'n  Cotton. 
H          J                      .                      Twines. 

&  F  Mnfrs.  Fancy 
Boxes  and  Baskets. 
H  Liquors 

H  J   0                    ..RE   Broker. 

H  L    T      Stock  Broker. 

T.  G  Painter 

H  R             ...  .Mnfr.  Camphorine. 

G  Furniture   etc 

H  S.  W.  &  J.  I  Prod.,  etc. 
H  S.  W.  &  Co.  .Hatters'  Trimmings. 
H  CO                .                     .  Coal 

E.  J.  &  Co  Mnfrs.  Files  and 
Saws. 
&  S  Shipwrights. 
J  F.    .                       .           Hotel 

H  J  E                    .           Hardware 

H  S  &  Co  Paper 

T  Mnfr.  Glass  Oilers. 
H  Cigars. 
L  Cigars. 

H  W.  F  Hardware. 
H  G  Hotel. 

H  A..  Drutrs. 

C.  &  Co  Scroll  Sawing. 
E  Restaurant  and  Beer. 
&  Co  Lager  Beer,  etc. 
&  D  .  .  .                 .  .  .Mirrors. 

H  I.  N.  &  Co  Advg.  Agents. 
H  &  B  .  ..Shipping  and  Com'n. 

THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


199 


H T.  W.  B Stock  Broker. 

H M Co Patent  Window 

Fastenings. 

H D Tailor. 

H H.  I Hide  Broker. 

H S.  E Clothing. 

H &  B Flour  and  Feed. 

H &  H Jobbers  Millinery. 

H A.  W.  &  T Tailors. 

H S H M Co. 

H R  Jeweller. 

H H Liquors. 

H J.  Jr Com'n  Paper. 

H M.  J. . .« Sewing  Machines. 

H D  B.  &  Co Com'a  Hats. 

H &  M . . .  ...  Teas. 

H C.  T Meds. 

II W.  H Com'n. 

H P L Co. 

H &  C Electrotypers. 

H F.  W.  &  Bro.  .Com'n  Chemicals. 

II H.  G Brushes  and  Brooms. 

H P.  V Hotel. 

H &  G Mnfrs.  Trim'gs. 

II D.  W Wooden  ware. 

II E.  W.  &  Son Furniture. 

H S.  A Ret.  Shirts. 

H Bros Jewelry. 

H &  Co Varnish. 

H B.  Jr Window  Shades. 

H J Whol.  and  Ret.  Liquors. 

H S.  &  Son Jobbers  D.  G. 

H J.  &  Co Milliners  and  Dress- 

mkrs. 

-  B M Co Roofing,  etc. 

-F Rags. 

_  M &  Co Vault  Lights. 

-  S Drug  Broker. 

—  \V &  Co Furniture. 

-L.  &  Co Prod. 

-J Ret.  D.G. 

-  P Co. 

—  H.  &  Son Cabinetmkrs. 

-  &  C Jobbers  Silks,  Rib- 

bons, etc. 

—  H Mnfr.  Syrups. 

—  A.  &  Co Sponges. 

-D.  J , Ice. 

-  P L Co ...'..  Lamps,  etc. 

J II Mnfg.  Chemist. 

J J Jobber  Cloths. 

J R Cigars. 

J S.  C Mnfr.  Silverware  Cases. 

J W Com'n  Prod. 

J W.  W Twines. 

J C.  W.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Fringes. 

—  W.  &  Co Imps.  Cutlery. 

J M Glassware. 

J F Sugars  and  Molasses. 

J E Broker  Naval  Stores. 


J G.  M Imp.  Precious  Stones. 

J Mrs.  H Tailors'  Trimmings. 

J L Ret.  Clothing. 

J L Jewelry. 

J L.  J Jobber  Liquors. 

J S Clothing. 

J &  R Whol.  Clothing. 

J O.  H Whol.  Drugs. 

J T Mnfr.  Dress  Caps. 

J F.  P.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

J R C Co. 

J P.  &  Bro Jobbers  Jewelry. 

J R Contractor. 

J D.  &  J Architects. 

J G Mnfr.  Shirts. 

J &  C .  .Tea,  Coffee  and  Spices. 

j &  j impa.  Hair. 

J S.  II Spring  Beds. 

J E.  Jr Patent  Suspenders. 

J L.  D.  F Fishing  Tackle. 

j &B Builders. 

J &  Co Clothing. 

J &  A Hotel. 

J J.  C.  &  Co Com'n  Coal. 

J J.  &  Sons  . .  .Mnfrs.  White  Lead 

and  Linseed  Oil. 

J J.  P.  &  Co Book  Pub'rs, 

J C Gen'l.  Mdse.  Broker. 

J II.  W R.  E.  Operator. 

J N School  Furniture. 

J B.  &  Sons Sugar  Refiners. 

J R L Co. 

J S.  &  Co Lighters. 

J V Co Mnfrs.  Valves. 

J W.  M.  &  R.  H Lumber. 

J &  M Bookbinders. 

J A Auctioneer. 

J G.  R Toys,  etc. 

J J.  P Oils  and  Glue. 

J J.  J.  &  Co. .  .Jobbers  Hats,  Caps, 

and  Furs. 

J F.  &  Co. . .  .Imps,  and  Mufrs.  Al- 
bums and  Fancy  Goods. 

J C House  Furn'g. 

J J Prov.  Broker. 

J S Wines. 

J S Painter. 

J W.  II Gro. 

J B.  &  Co Grain  Brokers. 

J D.  S.  &  A.  G. .  .Com'n  Flour  and 

Feed. 

J E.  &  Co Com'n  Lumber. 

J &  S .Bond  and  Loan  Brokers. 

J &  O Shipping  and  Com'n 

Prod. 

J Bros Printers  and  Stat'rs. 

J M.  J.  &  Co Tea  and  Coffee. 

J L Mnfr.  Lace  Goods,  etc. 

J G.  A Jewelry. 

J C   Stationery,  etc. 

J W.A...  ...Builder. 


200 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


J &  E Hotel. 

J P Com'n  Prod. 

J H Com'n  For.  D.  G. 

J H.  &  Co Imitation  Hair. 

J J.  S.  &  Co Prod. 

J H Liquors. 

J D.  J Com'n  Prod. 

J W Crockery. 

K E Ret.  Millinery. 

K S.  W Mnfr.  Cloaks. 

K F.  J . . .  Meerschaum  Pipes,  etc. 

K (i Worsted  Goods. 

K L Stoves. 

K J.  &  Bro Mnfrs.  Pocketbooks. 

K J Calfskins. 

K M Cigars. 

K J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Pipes. 

K P Wines. 

K M Imp.  Cutlery. 

K J.  J Trimmings. 

K E Jobber  Dress  Trim'gs. 

K I Peddler. 

K S.  L.  &  Son Restaurant. 

K J.  K Furs. 

K E Diamonds,  etc. 

K J.  &  Co. .    Clothing. 

K A.  &  Bro Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

K J Gro.  and  Baker. 

K L Mnfr.  B.  and  S. 

K &  Co Mufrs.  Boilers. 

K Mrs.  M Ret.  D.  G. 

K &  Co Shoe  Bows. 

K C Butcher. 

K J Whol.  Clothing. 

K S.  &  Co Com'n  Cotton. 

K &  Co Clothing. 

K &  J Imps.  Pictures,  etc. 

K &  Co Imps.  Pictures. 

K P Liquors. 

K &  D Billiard  Saloon. 

K J. Imps.  F'cy  G. 

K &  M Mnfrs.  Cloaks. 

K &  Co Shipping  and  Com'n. 

K &  Co Patent  Meds. 

K J.  &  Son Flour. 

K^^-  &  Co L  .Mnfrs.  Letter  Files. 

K A.  T Liquors. 

K D.  B.,  Jr Ins.  Broker,  etc. 

K S.  C.  &  Co .  Lumber  and  Veneers. 

K J Furniture. 

K D.  &  Co Liquors. 

K J.  M.  Manufacturing  Co. 

K 11 Jewelry. 

K M.  &  Son Liquors. 

K &  W Whol.  Clothing. 

K B.  &  Co Chemists. 

K S &  Co.  .  .  .Mnfrs.  Jewelry. 

K C  Mer.  Tailor. 

K E.  G Oils. 

K C.  G Leather  Weigher. 

K J.  Q PatentMeds. 


K T.  D Advg.  Agent. 

K O &  Co Tobacco. 

K D.  D Spice  Mills. 

: D Carpets. 

K J Liquors. 

K W .Rectifier. 

K &Co Furniture. 

K &  E Paper  Stock. 

K &  M Lumber. 

K F.  C.  &  Co Men's  Furn'g. 

K &  H Stationery. 

K J.  F R.  E.  Broker. 

K G.  W Oils. 

K &  H Stationery  and  Printing. 

K D.  T Builder. 

K W.  H Undertaker. 

K H.  C.  &  Co Com'n. 

K &  Co ,Ret.  D.  G. 

K &  M .  .Children's  Carriages. 

K F.  A Theatrical  Hosiery. 

K C.  B Sashes,  Doors,  and 

Blinds. 

K J Mnfr.  Morocco. 

K F.  O Com'n  Oils. 

K A.  W.  &  Co Silk  and  Fancy 

D.  G. 

K &  P Mnfrs.  B.  and  S. 

K A Jobber  Clothing 

K &  B Stock  Brokers. 

K Bros Corn'n  Mers. 

K &  C Prov.  and  Fish. 

K T.  &  T Auctioneers. 

K &  J Silverware. 

K H.  T.  &  Son Patent  Meds. 

K C.  T.P Furniture. 

K E Confec. 

K H.  II Banker. 

K B .Mnfr.  Ladies'  Wear. 

K J Broker  Naval  Stores. 

K M.  A Mnfr.  Corsets. 

K W Liquors. 

K A.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

K C M Co Syrups. 

K F &  Co 11.  R.  Supplies. 

K J.  &  Co Prov. 

K W.  &  Co Imps,  and  Mnfrs. 

Corks. 

K &  Co R.  E.  Brokers. 

K &  M — r- Sauce. 

K W.  P Furniture. 

K N.  &  Son Pickles,  etc. 

K R &  Co Com'n  Lumber. 

K C.  N Cotton  Broker. 

K F.  S Mnfr.  Ci-ars. 

K J.  P Hay. 

K G.  T.  &Co. . Liquors. 

K W Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

K &  L Lithographers. 

K E.  R Sailmkr. 

K J.   C Tailor. 

K J.  H Card  Engraver. 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


201 


K Bros.  &  Co Gen'l  Mdse. 

Brokers. 

K W FwdLT. 

K A Builder. 

K H Shirts. 

K S.  P Mattresses. 

K V.  &  Co Imps,  and  Com'n 

Drugs. 

K F.  W Cotton  Broker. 

K F Rhine  Wines. 

K A Lamps. 

K C.  E Gro. 

K J.  F Gro. 

K S.  H Builder. 

K H.  &  Son Bricks. 

K J.  G.  Muf'g.  Co. . .  .Mufrs.  Steam 

Gauges. 

K &  Co Prov.  Brokers. 

K T.  B.  &  Co Crockery. 

K A.  Jr Lard  and  Lard  Oil 

Broker. 

K G.  T Agent  and  Imp.  D.  G. 

K T.  M Liq.  Broker. 

K W Ins.  Broker. 

K W.  II Shipping  and  Com'n. 

K J.  J Iron  Foundry. 

K &  M Carriages. 

K E.  M Stock  Broker. 

K G.&  Sons.  .Imps.  Musical  Insts. 

K J Liquors. 

K S  ms  &  Co Stationers. 

K S Mnfr.  Flowers. 

K H.  &  Co Piano  Legs. 

K C Cabinetmkr. 

K J.  F Pies. 

K C D.  G.  Broker. 

K M Jobber  Gloves. 

K «-  L.  C.  &  Co Advg.  Agents 

and  Printing. 

K &  J Fruits,  etc. 

K &  S Whol.  Gro. 

K H Ret.  Gro. 

K P &  Co Pipes  and  Cig. 

K L Cotton  Bats  and  Twines. 

K &  H Showcases. 

K &  S Fruit  Brokers. 

K Bros Drugs. 

K K Safes,  etc. 

K A Leather  and  Findings. 

K J Mnfr.  Door  Knobs. 

K Bros Slate. 

K G.  G Bronze  Powder  Works. 

K K &  S Jobbers  Cloths. 

K L &  Co Bankers. 

K &  S Carriages. 

K A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Lace  Goods. 

K &  F Jobbers  Hosiery. 

K M Oils  and  D.  G. 

L J.,  Estate  of Carpets. 

L A.  W. . .  .Broker  R.  R,  Supplies. 

L G.  W..Mnfr.  Soda- Water  Cups. 


&  Co Sewing-Machine  At- 
tachments. 

L Bookbinder. 

J.  J „ Liquors. 

W Butcher. 

M.  C Jobber  Men's  Furn'g. 

T.  J Upholstery  Goods 

P.  W.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Ladies- 
Belts,  etc. 
_  s &  Co Mnfrs.  Tables. 

—  II Furniture. 

—  B &  Co Bankers. 

—  G R &  T Co 

—  P Whol.  Shirts,  etc, 

—  F &  C .  .Mnfrs.  Cutlery. 

—  A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Neckties. 

—  R.  E Furs. 

—  S Imp.  Watches  and 

Jewelry. 

—  K. . .  .Jobber  Dress  Trimmings. 

—  M Co Rubber  Goods. 

—  H Stock  Broker. 

—  &  B Stock  Brokers. 

—  J Liq.  and  Billiards. 

_&N Mnfrs.  Hats. 

—  &  B Imps.  Sponges. 

—  F.  K Teas  and  Coffees. 

—  J.  &  Co Flour,  Grain,  and 

Gen'l  Com'n. 

—  &  S Cabinetmkrs. 

—  S &  Co. . .  .Com'n  Shipping. 

—  M Cattle  Drover. 

—  N Leather,  etc. 

—  &  Bro Bankers,  etc. 

—  G.  .Ship  and  Steamboat  Owner. 

—  M Prod. 

—  Bros Prod.  Dealers. 

—  J.  W Baker. 

—  J Jeweller. 

—  W.  S Jobber  Flour. 

—  A.  C.  &  Co Liquors. 

—  Bros.  &  Co Bankers  and 

Brokers. 

—  C Co Cement. 

—  &  Co: Stornge. 

—  &  N .  .Wines,  Liq.  and  Teas. 

—  J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Bags. 

—  R.  M Com'n  Grain. 

—  J Stationer. 

—  S.  B Metal  Broker. 

T Prod. 

.  &  Co D.  G.  Brokers. 

P Petroleum  dm?. 

Bros Stationers. 

I Ret.  D.  G. 

S.  M Ret.  D.  G. 

&  F Tobacco  and  Pipes. 

Bros Tobacco. 

&  D Whol.  Liquors. 

B &  L Co. 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


C.  E.  &  Co Pickles,  etc. 

J.  F.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Brooms. 

&  B Fancy  Goods. 

J.  S Mnlr.  and  Jobber  Draw- 
ers, Shirts,  etc. 

M  ,  Jr Galvanized  Iron. 

E  Hair  Goods. 

E.  &  L.  DeF .  .Gen'l  Com'n. 

Bros Books. 

A.  Sons VVhol.  Gro. 

A.  W.  &  F.  W Com'n  Prod. 

J.  &  Co Pocketbooks,  etc. 

C.  B Flour  Broker. 

S.  W Coin'n  Flour. 

P.  &  Son Ret.  Clothing. 

C.  H Com'n  Piod. 

L.  &  G.  S Hotel. 

M.  L Fancy  Goods  and  Pins. 

F Liquors. 

F.  &  H Liquors. 

M &  Co Leaf  Tobacco. 

P  &  Co Wines. 

J.  &E D.  G.  Folders. 

C.&S.E Hotel. 

DeW.  C.  &  Co Pub'rs  and 

Booksellers. 

T.  F.  &  A Com'n  Prod. 

L.  H.,  Bro.  &  Co Clothing.  . 

&  E— - — Lubricating  Oils. 

F.  W.  &  Co. . .  .Imps.  Piano  and 
Table  Covers. 

P Hog  Broker. 

F.  &  Co Trimmings. 

•  T.  F.  &  Co Printers. 

&  F R.  E.  Brokers. 

A.  &  Co Jobbers  D.  G. 

J.  H Precious  Stones  and 

Silks. 

F.  H.  &  Co Printers'  Ink. 

S &  Co Wliol.  Liquors. 

A Jeweller. 

Mrs.  J Stoves,  etc. 

L Mnfr.  Shirts,  etc. 

S Hats  and  Caps. 

A.  D Mnfr.  Clothing. 

B Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

J.  E Mnfr.  Ladies'  Suits. 

M Wines  and  Liq. 

O.  S Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

S Imp.  Laces. 

S Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

A.  &  J Mnfrs.  Clothing. 

Bros Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

J.  &  M Whol.  Clothing. 

J.  &Co Lye. 

&  B Stock  Brokers. 

&  K Mnfrs.  Shoes. 

&  Bro Fancy  Goods. 

A.  &  Bros Mnfrs.  Clothing. 

Mrs.  R Mnlr.  Ladies'  Suits. 


L T.  M Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

L Bros Law  Books. 

L E.  &  Co Mnfrs.'  Agents. 

L \V.  R.  &  Co Rectifiers. 

L &  B Prov.  and  Tallow 

Brokers. 

L S Imp.  Kid  Gloves. 

L R Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

L M Co Machinery. 

L J Vinegar. 

L &  E Pianofortes. 

&  I Mnfrs.  Hats. 

J Boxmkr. 

A.  W Gro.  and  Liq. 

J Liquors. 

&  Sons Pianofortes. 

Bros Liquors. 

&  Co Imps.  Laces,  White 

Goods,  Embroideries,  etc. 

A Cigars. 

Whol  Millinery. 

R.  J.  &  A.  W. .  .T>pe  Founders. 

C.  A Tea  Broker. 

J.  A Hair  Jewelry. 

L A.  B Hop  and  Malt  Broker. 

L W.  0 Tailor. 

L &  G Bronze  Powder. 

.Mnfr.  Frames. 

&  Co Mnfrs.  Boys' 

Clothing. 

L L.  &  Son Whol.  Clothing. 

L M Auction  Goods. 

L &  S . . .  .Watches  and  Watch 

Materials. 

L II Metals. 

L A Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

L S.  &  B Jobbers  Millinery. 

E.  C R.  R.  Operator. 

E.  B R.  R.  Operator. 

L Whol.  Clothing. 

F.  N Mnfr.   Brooms. 

J.  H Mineral  Water. 

II.  &  Co Knitting  Cotton 

and  Cotton  Yarn. 

&  M Stationers. 

L &  Co Bankers. 

L &  H Bankers. 

L &  G Cigar  Moulds. 

L B Co Mnlis.  Button  s. 

L G Tailor. 

L M.  W Broker  Naval  Stores. 

Wines,  Teas  and  To- 
bacco. 

Looking-Glasses. 

. . .  .Specie  Brokers,  etc. 

Mnfrs.  Jewelry. 

Trimmings. 

...Mnfrs.  Ladies'  Belts 

L R Furniture. 

L &  Co Guano. 

L D.  H Com'u  Cotton,  etc. 


&Co... 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


203 


L J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

L H A Harness. 

L I.  M Gloves,  etc. 

L &  Co Kid  Gloves. 

L K.  H..  Steam-Engine  and  Cut-off. 

L Bros.  &  Co. .  .Imps,  Tobacco  and 

Cigars. 

L W.  A.  &  T Mnfrs.  Week- 
lies. 

L J.  H Liquors. 

L C.  H.  G.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Valises. 

L S Furniture. 

L S.  &  Co Whol.  Clothing. 

L &  G Fringes  and  Tassels. 

L S.  C Hats,  etc. 

L H.  P '.  .Prov.  Broker. 

L J   Com'n  Grain,  etc. 

L D.  H.  &  Co Gas  Stoves. 

L I Broker  Crockery,  etc. 

L I . .    .  .Flowers. 

L L Jobber  Millinery,  etc. 

L S Neckties. 

L &  G Wallpaper. 

L C Com'n  Prod. 

L E   Mnfr.  Lace  Goods. 

L J.  L Teas. 

L M Co Mining. 

L W &  Co Foundry. 

L G P &  P C 

M Co. 

L C.  &  Co. .  .S.  Am.  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

I, II Printer. 

L &  S Wagons. 

L E.  S Railway  and  Carriage 

Cloth. 

L A Real  Estate. 

L &  S .  .Jobbers  Jewelry,  etc. 

L M Watches,  etc. 

L J Com'n  Silks. 

L II Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

L &  S Piano  Materials. 

L &G R.  R.  Supplies. 

L T.  C.  &  Co Brewers. 

L E Florist. 

L J Furniture. 

L J Lumber. 

L T Liquors. 

L T.   P   Liquors. 

L C.  &  Co Mdse.  Brokers. 

L J.  T.  &  S Neckties. 

L R.  V.  &  Co Imps.  Laces,  etc. 

L &  G Pianos. 

L E Patent  Jacks. 

L II Com'n  Liquors. 

L L Sewing-Machines. 

L T Jewelry. 

L J.  M Com'n  Paper. 

L J.  &  Co Mnfrs.'  Agents. 

L &  A . . .  .Mnfrs.  Jewelry  Set- 
tings. 


L &  B Ship  Chandlers. 

McB S.  V Hats,  etc. 

McB J.  D.  &  Co Imps.  Laces. 

McC B Tailor. 

McC &  C Jobbers  Fancy 

Goods. 

McC J Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

McC J Tobacco. 

McC W Tobacco  Broker. 

McC N.  &  Bro Leather  and 

Findings. 

McC P Ret.  D.  G. 

McC &  Co Drugs. 

McC Bros Hardware. 

McC J.  &  Co Lumber. 

McC J.  G....Mnfr.  Women's  and 

Children's  Lace  Caps. 

McC &  Co. . .  .Galvanized  and  Re- 
fined Sheet  Iron. 

McC J.  M Gen'l  Com'n. 

McC J Malt,  Hops,  etc. 

McC W builder. 

McC J Builder. 

McC J.  E Builder. 

McC R.,  Agent. . .  .Ship  Chandler. 

McC S.  G Drug  Broker. 

McC H Mnfr.  Shirt  Bosoms  and 

Women's  Skirts. 

McC J.  J Lumber. 

McC J.  W Prov.  Broker. 

McC L Co. 

McD &  R Ret.  B.  and  S. 

McD G Com'n  Prod. 

McD J Restaurant. 

McD R.  G... Contractors'  Supplies. 

McD L &  Co Fruits. 

McE T Imp.  Seeds. 

McE T.  B Ret.  Clothing. 

McE H &Co Mosquito  Net- 
ting, etc. 

McG &  W Com'n  Prod. 

McG E Wines,  Liqs.,  etc. 

McG G.  W.  .Paper  Fasteners,  etc. 

McG Miss  L Fancy  Goods. 

McG J.  D Mdse.  Broker. 

McG T.  &  Co Oil  Works. 

McG H Plumber. 

McG J Lard  and  Grease. 

McG R Writing  Fluids. 

McH J.  V ?..  Sl.oes. 

McH—  P Ret.  D.  G. 

&  B Wines  and  Liq. 

T Marble. 

McK C.  W Com'n  Timber. 

McK &  F Drugs. 

McK &  W. .  .Shipping  ami  Com'n. 

McK W Machinist. 

McK H Liq  tiors. 

McK J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

McL E Shades  and  Paper- 
hangings. 


Mcl- 
Mcl- 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


McL J Hotel. 

McL &  Co. . .  .Gas  Fixtures,  China, 

etc. 

McM D &  Co ....  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

McM Mrs.  J. . .  .Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

McM R Bonnet-Frame  Wire. 

McM &  D Ship  Chandlers. 

McN F Whol.  H.  and  C.,  etc. 

McQ &  M Liquors. 

McR A Stoneyard. 

McW W &  Co Printers. 

M &  V Looking  Glasses. 

M &  Co Com'n  Cotton. 

M &  W Com'n  Prod. 

M F.  S Prod.  Broker. 

M Bros Furniture. 

M W.  &  Co.  .Shipping and  Com'n. 

M W.  A Com'n  Twines,  etc. 

M J.  O'N. .  .Dealer  Auction  Goods. 

M P.  A Shipping  and  Com'n. 

M C Co Colors. 

M W.  &  Co Prod. 

M J Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

M J.  T Scrap  Iron. 

M C.  W.  B Co Mnfrs. 

Brushes. 

M &  L . . .  .Coffee  and  Mustard 

Mills. 

M P Varnisher. 

M M Mnfr.  and  Whol.  Furs. 

M H Whol.  Gro. 

M J Liquors. 

M &  M Whol.  Gro. 

M M Bluestone. 

M &  Q .  .Shipping  and  Com'n. 

M J.  S Mnl'r.  Ladies'  Suits. 

M M •„ Mdse.  Broker. 

M &  M Imps,  and  Com'n 

Sauces. 

M &  Co Storage. 

M B M Co. .  .Paper  Bags. 

M L Feed. 

M T Com'n  Italian  Prod. 

M Mine.  C. . .  .Ladies'  Underwear. 

M H -. Hair  Goods. 

M J Advg.   Agent. 

M L.  L Southern  Com'n. 

M Mrs.  F Ret.  F'cy  Goods. 

M S Imp.  Druggists'  Ware. 

M D.  D Com'n  Flour,  Grain 

and  Feed. 

M M &  C Co. 

M P Co. 

M P Co. 

M S M Co. 

M S M Co.  of  Nevada. 

M S Co. 

M &  Bro Kid  Gloves. 

M W Mnfr.  Harness  Loops. 

M H.  &  Co.  .Bankers  and  Brokers. 


M &  M Hardware. 

M A.  W Slate. 

M M Leather. 

M A Ret.  Clothing. 

M J Jobber  Hosiery. 

M J.W .  .D.  G. 

M M Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

M J.  &  Co Imps.   Bronze,  etc. 

M J.  C Com'n  Silk  Goods. 

M S Trusses. 

M J.  A.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

M &  Co Printers. 

M &  R Stationers. 

M J.  P Fruit,  etc. 

M H C, Co. 

M M &  Co. . .  .Wines  and  Liq. 

M M C W . 

M H Liquors. 

M M Upholsterer. 

M F.  H Toilet  Soaps. 

M W.  D Coal. 

M G Mnfr.  Straw  Goods. 

M S Co Safes. 

M J Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

M M Boots  and  Shoes. 

M Bros Imps.  Kid  Gloves. 

M &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

M A Publisher. 

M R E Co. 

M &  E Whol.  Liquors. 

M J.  S Contractor. 

M F.  O.  &  W S R Co. 

M J.  W Leather  Broker. 

M L Whol.  Furs. 

M &  D Marble. 

M &  P Prod. 

M A Hatters'  Goods. 

M J Ladies'  and  Men's  Furn'g. 

M R Organs,  etc. 

M &  U "...Prod. 

M M ' Whol.  Jewelry. 

M &  VanR .Mining  Engineers. 

M J.  M.  &  Co Havana  Leaf 

Tobacco. 

M A Brewer. 

M &  B H E Co. 

M M.  E Engravings,  etc. 

M E.   L Patents. 

M C.  &  D .  .Com'n  Barrels,  etc. 

M L.  J Com'n  Liquors. 

M &  C Stationers. 

M &  L Imps.  Linens. 

M A Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

M Bros Japan  Trade. 

M C Cotton  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

M G.  W Tool  Works. 

M J Gro. 

M C.  L. . .  Whol.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

M J Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

M C.  S Pickles,  etc. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


205 


M- 

M- 

M- 
M- 

M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 

M- 

M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 

k- 

M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 
M- 


-S Gro. 

—  J.  D.  &  Co Liquors. 

—  C.  H Tobacco. 

—  J.  J Crockery. 

—  J.  R.  &  Co. . .  .Com'n  and  Imps. 

Cigars  and  Sugars. 

—  &  Co Tailors. 

-  J Stoves. 

-  C.  F Mnfr.  Stationery. 

-  M.  &  Co Window  Shades. 

-  S.  M Mnfg.  Silks,  etc. 

-  M Fancy  Goods. 

-  N Jeweller. 

-N Ret.  Hats. 

-  W Gro. 

-F.  &B Gro. 

_  &  'M Saw  Mill. 

-I Men's  Furn'g. 

-M.&H Liq.  and  Oils. 

-  &  L Cigars. 

-M.  H Clothing. 

-  T Liquors. 

-  T Ship  Broker. 

-  &  Co Jewelry. 

-  J.  F.  &  Co Prov. 

_&  H Toys. 

-  A.  II Mdse.  Broker. 

-  J.  B Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  T.  J.  .  .  .Tea,  Coffee  and  Spices. 

—  T Furniture. 

-  W.  C Tinware  and  Roofing. 

-  C.  R.  &  J.  W Tailors. 

-  C.  S.  &  Co.  .Sashes  and  Blinds. 

-  J.  &  Co Liquors. 

-  J.  H.  &  Son Gen'l  Com'n. 

-  M.  R.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

-  &  Co Drugs. 

-  &  Co Painters. 

-  W.  E.  &  Son Music. 

-  Bros Agents  Thread,  etc. 

-  Miss  A Ret.  Millinery,  etc. 

-  S.  A Stock  Broker. 

-  T.  B. ..... .Fishing  Tackle,  etc. 

-  S.  II.  &  Son.  .Purchasing  Agts. 
-C.  J.  &Co Ret.  Hats. 

-  B.  R. Tobacco  and  Gig. 

-  J.  H Drug  Broker. 

-C.  S Drugs. 

-  M.  S Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

-  &  II Stock  Brokers. 

-  G.  M Prov.  Broker. 

-A.  C Tailor. 

-  M R.  E.  Broker. 

&K Hotel. 

-  F.  B .  . . .  South  American  Com'n. 

-  W.  C .  .Stoves  and  House  Furn'g. 
-D.  &Co Wines,  etc. 

-  F Mnfr.  Combs. 

-  Mrs.   A Liquors. 

-  P.  &  F Liquors. 

-  N.   F . .  .Com'n  Furs. 


M C Sign  Painter. 

M &  D Builders. 

M C.  P Tailor. 

M B.  F Silver  Chaser. 

M E Diamonds  and  F'cy  G. 

M J Fancy  Goods. 

M J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

M G.  W.  &  Co Rubber  Paints. 

M Mrs.  A Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

M J Marble. 

M T.  F Lapidary. 

M H.  N Com'n  Prod. 

M D.  P.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

M E.  E.  Sons Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

M H &  Co. .  .Financial  Agents 

and  Brokers. 

M L.  &  Son Founders. 

M- —  B &  Co Bond  Brokers, 

etc. 

M H.  E.  &  Co.  .Com'n  E.  I.  Goods. 

M S Whol.  Clothing. 

M E Stock  Operator. 

M C &  Co Wines  and  Liq. 

M G.  F Printers'  Ink. 

M H.  G Prod. 

M Mrs.  A Crockery,  etc. 

M H Ins.  Broker. 

M J Patent  Meds. 

M &  B Ret.  Clothing. 

M &  M Spectacles. 

M M Mnfr.  Hair  Goods. 

M N Cigars. 

M J.  W Flour. 

M Mrs.  E.  P House  Furn'g. 

M &  K Gilders. 

M J.  E Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

M J Tailor. 

M J Hotel. 

M J.  G Ret.  D.  G. 

M &  C Whol.  Men's 

Furn'g. 

M Bros Drugs  and  Essential 

Oils. 

M &  G .Gro. 

M N.  L.  &  Co Publishers. 

M &  Bro Jobbers  D.  G. 

M &  Co. . .  .Gro.  and  Com'n  South- 
ern Prod. 

M A Mustard,  Spices,  etc. 

M P.  &  Son Carriage  Painters. 

M W.  H.  &  Co.  .Extension  Tables. 

M B.  Jr.  &  Co Bankers. 

M M Liquors. 

M P Chemicals. 

M R.  Jr Shipping  and  Com'n. 

M D.  &  Co Mnfrs.  and  Jobbers 

Lace  Goods. 

M .  F &  Co .  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

M J.  &  Co...  .....Lumber. 


206 


THE   COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


]\x &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

M &  Co Coui'n  Prod. 

M F Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

M H Printer. 

M H Jobber  Cloths. 

M S Women's  Caps. 

M S.  F Ret.  Fancy  and  D.  G. 

M M Co. . .  .Smoothing  Irons. 

M &  G Pickles. 

M &  U Com'n  Flour  and 

Feed. 

M &  P Laces,  etc. 

N M Lager  Beer. 

N M House  Furn'g  Goods. 

X A Photographer. 

X (i Liquors. 

X &  L . . .  .Mnf'rs.  Suspenders. 

X U.  H.Ret.  Hats, Caps,  Furs,  etc. 

X &  G .'. .  . .  .Jewelry. 

X R.  W Broker. 

X E.  &  Sou Jobbers  Clothing. 

X &  P Mufrs.  Imitation 

Hair. 


&  Z Co. 

X W M Co. 

X A Stoves. 

X S.  &  Co Imps.  Wines  and 

Liq. 

X A Metals. 

X L Whol.  Clothing. 

N K &   G Fireworks, 

etc. 

X Mrs.  R Gen'l  Com'n. 

X F.  A Brewer. 

X D Cabinetmkr. 

X &  H Mnfrs.  Neckties. 

X' H Mnfr.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

N A Jobber  Straw  Goods. 

X C.  E.  &  Co Men's  Furn'g. 

\T_  f^        9,     T> Tk-A       T^» /^ 1_ 

N- 


Xew-York  A 
Xe  w-York  A 

Co. 

Xew-York  A 
Xew-York 
Xew-Yor 

Xew-York  C P Co. 

Xew-York  C &  S Co. 

Xew-York  C W . 

Xew-York  E &  P Co. 

Xew-York  F S Co. 

New- York  G &  H Co. 

New-York  G S Co. 

New- York  &  H P Co. 

New- York  H 


New- York  L P Co. 

Xew-York  M Co. 

Xew-York  &  N S S Co. 

New- York  &  O C Co. 

New -York  O Co. 

New- York  P C Co. 

New- York  P M . 

New-York  P W . 

New- York  R Co. 

New-York  S M Co. 

New-York  S W . 

Xew-York  S S Co. 

New- York  £  S C &  I Co. 

New- York  S M Co. 

New-York  T &  D Co. 

New- York  T &  E Co. 

New- York  V Co. 

New- York  W &  S Co. 

New- York  W P Co. 

New- York  W &  P Co. 

N E.  S Saddlery. 

X* L Stock  Broker. 

N Bros Imps.  Fancy  Goods. 

N G Coal. 

N I.  U Ret.  Shoes. 

X' J Coal. 

N D &  Co China,  etc. 

N A.  H.  &  Co Stock  Brokers 

and  Auctioneers. 
N A Mer.  Tailor. 


G.  &  Bro Ret.  F'cy  Goods,    j  N 

J.  &  Sons Jobbers  Fancy 

Goods. 


N &  K Passage  and 

Ticket  Agents. 

N O.  R Mnfr.  Fancy  Goods. 

N S.  A Lumber. 

X* M Contractor. 

N &  G Lumber. 

N Bros Watches. 

X H.W Jewelry. 

N E.  S.  &  Co Jobbers  Cloths. 

N A N R P Co. 

N R I Co. 

N C.  M.  &  Co Furniture. 

N M.  C.  &  Co Coa  1 . 

N P Contractor. 

X &  D M Co. . .  .Saddlery 

H'ware. 

N T Furniture. 

&  P O'B J.  R Paints  and  Oils. 

;  O'B J Ret.  Liquors. 

O'B R Liquors. 

O'C P.  J.  &  Co Dry  Dock 

Owner?. 

O'C &  Son Ret.  D.  G. 

O'C E Mnfr.  Imitation  Hair. 

O'D J. Iron  Foundry. 

|  O'D D Silk  Broker. 

O'H J.  &  Bro Ret.  Boots  and 

Shoes. 

O'K T Stationery. 

;  O'M Bros.. Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

•  O'N B Liquors. 


THE    SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


207 


O'N P.  H Coffins. 

O'N &  Co Marble  Mantels. 

O'N A.  &  Co Liquors. 

O'R C Builder. 

O F.  C Coal. 

O &  K . . .  .Washing  Machines. 

O p Mnfr.  Cloaks  and  Suits. 

O Mrs.  S Ret.  F'cy  Goods. 

O &  W Mnfrs.   Shirts. 

O S Ret.  Clothing. 

O F.  &  Son Cabinetmkrs. 

O A.  S.  &  E Livery  Stables. 

() &  Co Shipping  and  Com'n. 

O &  C Moulding  Mill. 

O R Wines,  etc. 

0 I.  J Printer,  etc. 

O J.  C Jobber  Notions. 

O C Paperhan<rings. 

O &Co Bitters. 

O &  Co Teas,  etc. 

O J.  W.  &  Son House  Furn'g. 

O &  C Guns. 

O G.  &  Co Bankers. 

O S V Co. 

() S Sausage  Casings. 

O M &  S . . .  .Sausage  Cas- 
ing Mnfg. 

O P Jobber  Hosiery,  etc. 

O M Co Patented  Articles. 

O E Harness. 

O G Mnfr.  Caps. 

O J.  U.  &Co Bankers. 

O W Tailor. 

0 W.  C Hemp,  Bagging  and 

Twine. 

0 J Wines. 

O F.  A.  &  Co Oil. 

() H.  D Mattresses,  etc. 

O &  W Laces,  etc. 

O L Fancy  Goods. 

O D.  E Carpets. 

O O.  C.  &  Co Stationers. 

P K &  F . . .  .Roofing  Ma- 
terials and  Varnish. 

1 M.  J.  &  Co Music  Boxes. 

1 N &  Co Leather  Brokers. 

1 J.  R Wireworker. 

P A Mnfr.  Suits. 

P A B W Co. 

1 Bros Jobbers  Cotton  Goods. 

I &  Co Confec. 

1 M Tobacco. 

1 R.  R Prod. 

1 Bros. .    Drugs. 

P J.  A Lithographic  Presses. 

1 N.  O.  &Co Oils. 

1 W.  S Woodenware. 

1 G Fireworks. 

P M.  H Oils. 

P W.  J Chemist. 

P J.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 


P &  C Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

P J Chairs. 

P P.  J Drugs. 

P Bros Stock  Brokers. 

P B R Co. 

P C S R &  W Co. 

P R T L Co. 

P S A S Co. 

P R.  &  Co. .  .Shipping  and  Com'n. 

P L.  &  Bro Photo.  Goods. 

P C.  G Operator. 

P G   T Bookbinder. 

P H.  A Stock  Broker. 

P F.  &  Co Druggists'  Sundries, 

etc. 

P K &  Co Foundry. 

P F.  C.  &  Co Billiard  Saloon. 

P I M Co. 

P W.  &  Co Com'n  Flour. 

P G.  W Jobber  Dry  Goods. 

P L.  M.  &  Co Tea  Dealers. 

P P.  L Ship  Chandler. 

P M.  M Carriages. 

p &  B M .  .Children's  Car- 
riages. 

P C.  H Banker. 

p &  M .  .Mnfrs.  Silk  Ribbons. 

P C Artificial  Flowers. 

P &  P Com'n  Furs. 

P Bros.  &  Co Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

P &  0 . .  .Shipping  and  Com'n. 

p &  S R.  R.  Securities. 

P J.  A Gen'l  Com'n. 

P J.  L Music  Pub'r. 

P S.  D ; Wheelwright. 

P Bros Imps.  Cutlery. 

P C.  &  E.  J Com'n  Lumber. 

P &  Co Publishers. 

P &  0 Wheelwrights,  etc. 

P J.  T Tailor. 

P L.  A. . .  .Liq.  and  Canned  Fruits. 

P W.  K ....Ret.  D.  G. 

P T Wines. 

P J.  &  Co Paper  Boxes. 

P E Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

P G.  E Mnfr.  Billiard  Tables. 

P &  E Jobbers  Fancy 

Goods. 

P &  G Jewelry. 

p &  S Mnfrs.  Clo. 

P J Tailor. 

P A &  Co Publishers. 

P J.  B.  &  Son Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

P M Co Camera  Obscuras. 

P &  Co Gen'l  Mdse.  Brokers. 

P F Insect  Powders. 

P E.  S.  &  Co Feed. 

P E- Co. 

P £  D Steam  Governors. 


208 


THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


P A Liquors. 

P Bros.  &  Co. . . Hops,  etc. 

P R.  L Fruit  Broker. 

P J.  B Fwdg. 

P B.  Son Optician. 

P H.  H Bookseller  and  Stat'y. 

P &  Co Gold  and  Specie. 

P F.  H.  &  Co Publishers. 

P I Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

P G Machinery  Agent. 

P &  Co Spices. 

P M.  A Stock  Broker. 

P H.  R.  &  J.  L Furniture. 

P H Ret.  Clothin". 

P H.  &  Co Lye. 

P J.  &  Bro Confec. 

P &  L . .  .Mnfrs.  Ladies'  Caps, 

etc. 

P &  Co Store. 

P E.  D Coni'n  Prod. 

P E Co. 

P &  B Founders. 

P W.  E. Mnfg.  Agent. 

P B A Co. 

P Bros Cabinetmkrs. 

P E Ret.  Millinery. 

P J Hardware. 

P &  S M Co Furn. 

P Bros. . .  Sewing  Machine  Attach- 
ments. 

P &  M R.  E.  Agents. 

P D Chairs. 

P P.  F Tailor. 

P M &  S Printers. 

P M.  &  Bro Whol.  Shirts. 

P S.  L Imp.  'Feathers  and 

Flowers. 

P J.  P Printer. 

P R.  M Ret.  Shoes. 

P Bros Cloaks. 

P J.  H Gro. 

P &  Sons Wines  and  Liq. 

P W.  I Com'n  Flour  and  Grain. 

P Dr.  C.  T Patent  Meds. 

P D Drugs. 

P J.  D Ret.  Clothing,  etc. 

P J Books. 

P J.  &  Son Japanners. 

P D.  H Printer. 

P J.  L Ret.  Hats. 

P J.  D.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

P &  T Mnfrs.  Plated 

Jewelry. 

P M P Co. 

I' R Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

P &  P R.  R.  Supplies. 

P J.  B Jobber  Toys  and  Fancy 

Goods. 

P A &  M Mnfrs. 

Ladies'  Suits. 
P C.  J R.  R.  Iron. 


P W.  B Drugs. 

P T.  I Mnfr.  Piano  H'ware. 

P S &  Co Mnlrs.  Ladies' 

Suits,  etc. 

P M Co. 

Q F .Publisher. 

Q Mrs.  G Hair  Goods. 

Q H Mahogany. 

Q J Boots  and  Shoes. 

Q H &  Co Cut  and  En- 
graved Glass. 

Q E.  A Coal. 

Q O.  C Safes. 

R J.  H Fish. 

R &  Bro Ship  Brokers. 

R S &  Co Mnfrs.  Hats  and 

Caps. 

R P Co! 

R &  K Manures. 

R M W.  I.  Com'n. 

R P L Co. 

R J.  R.  &  Co Blastin^  Powder. 

R &  T Bookbinders. 

R O.  A Printer. 

R S Confec. 

R S.  R Hardware 

R I.  C.  B Crockery. 

R W. Gro. 

R &  S Ins.  Brokers. 

R M.  L. . . : Mufr.  Umbrellas. 

R G.  H Baker. 

R &  Son Jewellers. 

R &  Bro Woollen  Rags. 

R W.  M.  M Co.  .Burial  Cases. 

R G.  W Ginger  Beer  and  Cider. 

R J.  A Banker. 

R C.  H. . . : Hotel. 

R J.  Jr Cider,  Biandv,  etc. 

R W.  J Printer. 

R W.  H Liquors. 

R G.  H Envelc 

R &  Co Books,  etc. 

R &  S Tobacco. 

R J.  E House  Furn'g  Goods. 

R C.  E Jeweller. 

R G.  R Ret.  Millinery. 

R H.  C.  Jr Piatedware. 

R J.  A Machinery. 

R J.  J Printer. 

R P Prod.  Dealer. 

R I.  T Stables. 

R A.  M Men's  Furn'g. 

H J.  T    Jr Billiards. 

R S &  Co Confec.  Supplies. 

R F.  A. . .  .Imp.  Drugs,  Paints,  etc. 

R J.  J.  &  Son.  .  .Mnfrs.  Furniture. 

R &  S Varnishes. 

R F Photo.  Materials. 

R C.  B...  ...Feed. 


ivelopes. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


209 


R P Ret.  Jewelry. 

R E Musical  Insts. 

R S.J Cloths. 

R J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

R J Builder. 

R c.  W Seeds  and  Grain. 

R T.  P Com'n  D.  G. 

R R Chemicals. 

R A.- Cigars. 

R L.  F Mnfr.  Grain  Bags. 

R &  B Leather  Varnish. 

R R &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

11 A Dyer. 

R P Co Mufrs.  Paint. 

R J.  M Fruit. 

R P.  M Ret.  B.  and  S. 

R F.  F Liquors. 

R &  N- — Restaurant. 

R W.  M Banker. 

R &  II Com'n  Alcohol. 

R J Fruit  Broker. 

R M Mnfr.  Neckties 

R A.  K.  &  Co..Manfrs.  Perfumery. 

R C Maufr.  Artificial 

Flowers. 

R J.  J Iron. 

R W.  J Ruches. 

R T.  C.  H Co Hardware. 

R G.  E Ship  Chandler. 

R B.  &  Son Com'n  Silk  and 

China  Goods. 

R B Mnfr.  Neckties. 

R M Broker  and  Com'n. 

&  Co Coal. 

Co Copper  Ore. 

R &  Co Imps.  Curtains,  etc. 

R S &  Co Looking-Glass 

Plates. 

R I &  Co Patterns. 

R A Com'n  Embroideries. 

R &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

R T Com'n  Mer. 

R &  M Painters. 

R &  W Painters. 

R J.  H Com'n  Lumber. 

R C.  &  Co Mdse.  Brokers. 

R T Drugs. 

&  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

R &  R Liquors. 

R E Gro. 

R S.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

R S Leather. 

R M Co Mnfrs.  Lace 

Goods. 

-  W.  C Lithographer. 

R J Brewer. 

R C.  H.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

R E.  H.  &  Co. . .  .Brass  Goods,  etc. 

R G.  B.  &  Co Com'n  Flour. 

R H Gro. 

R M A 


Mnfrs.  Rufflings. 

R P.  D.  &  Co Com'n  Cotton. 

R &  Co Foreign  Express. 

R M.  C Cuban  Com'n. 

R Bros Cigars. 

R W.  H.  &  Co Patent  Lined 

Pails, 
R J Tailor. 

H.  H Tailor. 

&  M Printers. 

A.  &  Co Jewelry,  etc. 

R H.  C.  &  Co Fish  &  Com'n. 

R J.  S.  &  Co Teas,  Coffees,  etc. 

R &  D Stock  Brokers,  etc. 

R J Brewery. 

R C.  V Hats  &  Caps. 

R J.  B Steam  Boilers. 

R S Com'n  Cotton. 

Co. 
Co. 

J Coal. 

R J.  B.  &  Co Patent  Meds. 

R &  Co Stationers. 

R J.  M.  &  Co Liquid  Glue. 

R &  K Mnfrs.  Neckties. 

R &  B Ret.  Fancy  Goods, 

R F Fancy  Goods. 

R M Jobber  Fancy  Goods. 

R &  Co D.  G.  Brokers. 

R &  Co . .  .Tobacco. 

R &  Co Whol.  Clothing. 

R &  M Mnfrs.  Shirts, 

R M Ret.  D.  G. 

R &  Co Jobbers  Fancy  D.  G. 

R S Hoopskirts> 

R E Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

R A.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

R A Mnfr.  Cloaks. 

R J Leather  and  Findings. 

R Mrs.  M Fancy  Goods'. 

R I.  &A Ret.  D.  G. 

R S.  D.  &  Co Neckwear. 

R J Liquors. 

R J Distiller. 

R &  w Com'n  Gro. 

R- —  J.  O'D Hotel. 

R W C Co Toothpicks, 

etc. 

R W Imp.  Fancy  Leather. 

R J Billiard  Tables. 

R W Leather  and  Findings. 

R S.,  Jr Mnfr.  Lace  Goods. 

R Bros.. . .  .Mnfrs.  Ladies'  Under- 
garments. 

R &  F Jobbers  Clo. 

R J.  F .Brewer. 

R C Jobber  Cloth. 

R C Mnfr.  Feathers  and 

Flowers. 

R J.  R Shipping  and  Com'n 

Prov. 


210 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


R T Linseed  Oil. 

R E.  A Wliol.  Liquors. 

R B &  S M Co. 

—  T Shipping  and  Com'n. 

R &  U Imps.  Wines  and 

Liq. 

R J.  C Drugs. 

R &  Co Drugs. 

R J.  F Hotel. 

R WVH Glass. 

R &  B Bookbinders. 

&  Co.  ..Imps,  and  Jobbers 
Men's  Furn'g. 

Tailor. 

R M.  F D.G. 

S L .Wagons. 

S M Pipes,  etc. 

S &  Co Whol.  Cigars. 

S &  Co.  ..Shirts  and  Men's  Furn'g. 

S J.  A Job  Printer. 

S J.  H .Druggists'  Sundries. 

S T.  M R.  E.  Broker. 

S E.  W.  &  Bro Stationers  and 

Printers. 

S &  M Ret.  Clothing. 

S D.  &  J Publishers. 

St.  J G Gen'l  Com'n. 

St.  M R L Co. 

S W.  &  Co Ship  Brokers. 

S S Tobacco. 

S M.  &  E Tobacco. 

S E.  Y Com'n. 

S M Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

S S.  L Com'n  Hardware. 

S W Ret.  D.  G. 

S T.  &  Co Agents  Ales. 

S &  S Whol.  Clo. 

S &  B Agent  for  H 's  Sons. 

S J Hair  Goods. 

S D , Liquor?. 

E Coffee  Broker. 

S Co Mineral  Waters. 

T.  B Guano. 

H Restaurant. 

S M Fancy  Goods. 

S W.  E.  Jr.  &  Co Ret.  Drugs. 

S E Gro. 

S E.  &  A Jewellers. 

Brewer. 

.Builders'  Hardware. 

D.  &  Co Whol.  B.  and  S. 

&  S Bankers,  etc. 

3 Bros Whol.  Clothing. 

. . .  .Agent  Stationery. 

F.  X Restaurant. 

J A House. 

J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Tinware. 

.Importer  Optical  Goods. 

C.  &  Co Cabinetmakers. 

R Speculator. 

E. . .  . .  .Auctioneer. 


S C Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

S J.  P Iron. 

S H Picture  Frames,  etc. 

S G.  &  Son Jobbers  Clothing 

S S.  &  N Whol.  Gro. 

S V Liquors. 

S L Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 

S M Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

S H.  &Co Ret.  Clo. 

S L.  &  Co Ret.  Clothing. 

S J Fancy  Goods. 

S W.  J Jobber  Cloths. 

S T Job  Printer. 

S H Plumber. 

S L.  &  Co Shipping  Com'n. 

S J Rhine  Wine. 

S J.  &  Co Leaf  Tobacco. 

S &  S Furniture. 

S E Mnf.  Hair  Goods. 

S H Peddlers'  Supplies. 

S F Prov.  Broker. 

S J.  M Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

S S &  R- Co. .  ..Solder  and 

Lead. 

S G.  H Hats. 

S J.  G Mnfg.  Jeweller. 

S W Furniture. 

S D.  L Com'n  R.  R.  Iron. 

S &  Co Maps,  etc. 

H D.  G.  Auctioneer. 

J Fish  and  Oysters. 

&  D Guns,  etc. 

J.  E Texan  Com'n. 

Brass  Band  Insts. 

&  C Showcases. 

J Stairbuilder. 

E Prov.  Broker. 

H Pianos. 

&  Co.  ..Mnfrs.  Cloth  Hats,  Caps, 
etc. 

J.  G Tailor. 

C.  L Toys  and  Fancy  Goods. 

'.  F J W Park. 

&  M .. .  .Cement  and  Mineral 

Waters. 

S H.  W .....Gro. 

S P Ret,  Fancy  D.  G. 

S W Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

S F.  H Specie  Broker. 

S F.  C.  &  Co. . .  .Mnfg.  Stationers. 

S &  Co Umbrellas. 

M.  F.  &  Co Planing  Mill. 

S Butcher. 

P M Co. . Looking-Glass 

Plates. 

R.  K.  &  V.  R Whol.  Gro. 

A Furniture. 

H.  S.  &  Co Novelties. 

H Tailor. 

Mrs.  J Mnfr.  Tobacco. 

L Ret.  Millinery. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


211 


S A.  J Stoves. 

S G B Co. 

S 'G.  W.. Shipper  Flour  and  Grain. 

S G.  W.  &  Co Clothing. 

S J.  &  Co.  .Mnfrs.  Horse  Blankets. 

S H.  M D House. 

S W.  B Stock  Broker. 

S &  C .Soda  Water  Apparatus. 

S S.  V.  &  F.  P Dyewoods. 

S I Teas,  etc. 

S E Gro. 

S Mrs.  E Restaurant. 

S J.  A Ship  Chandler. 

S L.  I Com'n  Prod. 

S C Mirrors,  etc. 

S J Wagons. 

S I.  M.  Jr Jewelry. 

S M.  &  Co Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

S Z Contractor. 

S S.  &  Son Boilermakers. 

S &  K Com'n  Prod. 

S H Imp.  Foreign  Fruits. 

S &  M Mnfrs.  B.  and  S. 

S L.  D Crockery. 

L.  &  W . .  ..Jobbers  Flowers. 

.Jobber  White  Goods. 

R Imp.  German  Linens. 

Z Tobacco. 

H German  Prod.,  etc. 

&  F Mnfrs.  Showcases. 

J.  II Optician. 

Cigars. 

L  T.  &  Son Mouldings. 

M E Co. 

S C ,  .  Liquors. 

S E Pictures. 

S W &  Co..  .Mnfrs.  Silk  Hats. 

S &  K Satinets  and  Cotton- 

ades. 

S M Co Cordials,  Bitters, 

etc. 

S &  W Com'n  Meat. 

S S R.  E.  Operator. 

S J Liquors. 

S &  S Note  Brokers. 

S S.  I Men's  Furn'g  Goods. 

S W.  F.  &  Co Com'n  H'ware. 

S L. . .   Human  Hair. 

S J.  G.  &  Co.  ..Mnfrs.  Blankbooks. 

S M.  &  W.  I.  &  Co. Com'n  Carpets. 

S &  R L Co.  .Metal  Pipes. 

S C.  C.  &  Co Ret.  H.  and  C. 

S D Tow  Boats. 

-  Bros Carpets. 

S T Liquors. 

S S.  W.  &  D .  .Agents  Grocers' 

Sundries,  etc. 

S J Liquors. 

S KM Mdse.  Broker. 


S J.  Jr Hardware. 

S R Boots  and  Shoes. 

S E.  S Metal  Broker. 

S I.  A Trusses. 

S—  H &  Co Imps.  White 

Goods,  Linen,  etc. 

S W.  &  Co Bankers. 

S C.  W Gro. 

S D Cooper. 

S G Petroleum  Broker. 

S M Tailor. 

S &  E Mnfrs.  Clothing  and 

Shirts. 

S B Brewer. 

S H.  B Com'n  Straw  Goods. 

S R.  L Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

S J.  M Imp.  Leaf  Tobacco. 

S I Jobber  White  Goods. 

S D.  &  Co Masonic  Goods. 

S G.: Jeweller. 

S H.  D Jobber  Toys. 

S A.  &  Co .Ret.  Clothing. 

S J.  J.  &  F Wines  and  Liq. 

S &  J Sewing  Machines. 

S T Clothing. 

g &  G Ret.  Clo. 

S &  H Ret.  Hats,  Caps, 

Furs,  etc. 

S Mrs.  M.  M Ret.  D.  G. 

S C Jobber  Fancy  Goods. 

S T Mnfr.  Shirts. 

U Real  Estate. 

G.  F.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Pocket- 
books. 

M.  &  Bro Clothing. 

~.  P Lithographer. 

C.  D Ship  Broker. 

S S.  L Liquors. 

S L.  H.  &  Co Lumber  and  Coal 

S &  Co Imps.  Fancy  Goods 

S W.  Jr Books. 

S &  M .  ..Shipping  and  Com'n. 

J Gro. 

W.  S T House. 

&  L . . .  .Saddlery  Hardware. 

E Hats. 

R Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

Bros Liquors. 

•  M &  Co Sugar  Brokers. 

J.  C.  &Son.:...       ^ — •- -D—I 


S G.  C 

J.  H 

W &Co... 


Com'ii  Prod. 
.Prov.  Broker. 

Builder. 

.Mnfrs.  Blank- 
books. 

Sugar  Brokers. 

A Leaf  Tobacco. 

A.  W Auctioneer,  etc. 

B.W Prod. 

C.  M Lithographer. 

C.  G...  Hats. 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


S D.  M Builder. 

S Mrs.  E.  J Ket.  Fancy  Goods. 

S F Oils. 

S F.  H Gov't  Contractor. 

S G.  P Contractor. 

S H Hotel. 

S H.  N Stock  Operator. 

S J.  F Mnfr.  Brushes. 

S J.  W Builder. 

S N .  W Builder. 

S P.  F : Stationer. 

S R Carpets. 

S S.  C F House. 

S S.  J Mnfg.  Jeweller. 

S S.  W.,  Est.  of. Wooden 

Horses. 

S W.  J Flour  Broker. 

S W.  I Pottery. 

S W.  H Stairbuilder,  etc. 

S C.  &  Co ^...Blacking. 

S C &  Co Com'n  Lumber. 

S J.  A.  &  Co Lighters. 

S J.  M.  &  Co Cotton. 

S R.  W.  &  Co Bookbinders. 

S &  E Coal. 

S &  Co.,  Agents. Carpets. 

S &  E Com'n  Prod. 

S &  G Restaurant. 

S &  L Bronze  Articles. 

S &  S M Co.  ..Machinists. 

S &  B Iron  Railings. 

S W.  B Job  Printer. 

S W.  B Ship  Broker. 

S J Art  Gallery. 

S— —  W Jobber  D.  G. 

S E Builder. 

S J Builder. 

S &  R Shipping  &  Com'n. 

S &  Co Pianos. 

S A.  &  Sons Mnfrs.  Ribbons. 

S D.&  Co Ret.  D.  G. 

S L Whol.  Clothing. 

S Bros Mnfrs.  Neckties,  etc. 

S R Art  Gallery. 

S I Liquors. 

S J.  P Paper. 

S I Shipping  and  Com'n. 

S J.  &  Co Petroleum. 

S H.  &  G.  &  Co.  .Mnfg.  Jewellers. 

S M.  ..Imp.  Watches  and  Jewelry. 

S &  Co Lumber. 

S J.  P.  &  Son Drug  Brokers. 

S L E &  P Co. 

S Mrs.  S.  E Honey. 

S H Stationer. 

S G.  &  Co Men's  Furn'g. 

S F Gro.,  etc. 

S &  Co Mnfrs.  Imitation 

Champagnes. 

S A.  &  Son Billiards. 

S T.  P.  &  Co Perfumers. 


T.  C.  &  Co Western  Com'n. 

E.  M Real  Estate,  etc. 

H Cloths. 

L Jobber  Cloths. 

J Peddlers'  Supplies. 

E.  \-  Co Tobacco. 

A Liquors. 

Bros.  &  Co -  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

.Fixed  Ammunition. 
. .  .Jobbers  Millinerr 
Goods. 

S C Tobacco  Broker. 

S J.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

S W.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

S J C Hotel. 

S i:  X Hotel. 

S J Human  Hair. 

S J.  H Gro. 

S S.  S. .  .Mnfr.  Ink  and  Mucilage. 

S S.  W Teas. 

S Mnfg.  Co Stencil  Plates. 

S J Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

S D.  R.  &  Co Pianos. 

S M.  J.  &  Co Prod. 

S M Co Women's  Under- 
wear. 

S A Shipping  and  Com'n. 

S M.  W Prod.  Broker. 

S &  D Liquors. 

R.  H.  &  Co Cigars. 

-.  ..Bankers  and  Brokers. 
.Mnfr.  Trimmed  Hat>. 

J Hotel. 

J Ship  Chandler. 

E.  P Lumber. 

J.  J Jobber  Jewelry. 

A.  &  Co Tobacco. 

&  Bro Jewelry,  etc. 

&  S Mnfrs.  Suspenders. 

W.  &  Co Whol.  Clothino. 

W.  C Hops. 

T.  &  Co S.  Am.  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

&  F Whol.  Clothing. 

&  P . .  .Jobbers  Fancy  Goods 

and  Hosiery. 

J Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

R.  &  Co Jewelry. 

BonedusL 

S A.  F Mnfr.  Cigars. 

S P V Co. .  .Mnfrs.  Vices. 

S J.  &  Co Car  Builders,  etc. 

S E Furs  and  Skins. 

S &  D Skin  Brokers. 

S J Peddler  Cloth. 

S S Pawnbroker 

. .  .Bankers. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


213 


S A.  &  Co...  .California  Wines  and 

Liq. 

S F.  &  Co Imitation  Jewelry. 

S &  H .  .Jobbers  White  Goods. 

S L.,  Jr Job.  Jewelry. 

S S.  S Builder. 

g" W Paperhangings. 

S A.  T.  &  Co Paints,  Oils,  etc. 

S M &  L Co. 

S &  Co Jewelers. 

S V.  K.,  Jr R.  E.  Broker,  etc. 

S G.  H.  &  Co. : Hand  Stamps. 

S A Stock  Broker. 

S T Wines  and  Liq. 

S W.  D Pottery. 

S R.  &  Co. .  .Mnfrs.  Shirt  Bosoms. 

S &  M Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

S &  W Mnfrs.  B.  &  S. 

S J.  T Prod. 

S &  X ..Mnfrs.  Hats  and  Caps. 

S G.  W.,  Jr Freight  Broker. 

S M &  Co Jobbers  Cloths. 

S C Baker. 

S &  U Mnfrs.  Woollens. 

S L Mnfr.  Shoes. 

S &  Co Mnfrs.  Vinegar. 

S E.  &  Co Ladies'  Collars,  etc. 

S &  G Ret.  Clothing. 

S &  W ..Jobbers  Fancy  Goods. 

S T Millinery. 

S E Cigars. 

S E.  &  S Cigars,  etc. 

S R.  &  Co Coffee,  Spices,  etc. 

S J.  W Pickles,  etc. 

S W.  T Wireworker. 

S H.  D Machinery. 

S M Co Machinery. 

S B Stationer. 

S &  H Bros Wool  Brokers. 

S E.  W House  Furn'g. 

S E.  M Coal. 

A Veneers,  etc. 

Mnfr.  Cigars. 

S Mnfr.  Neckties. 

S.  &  Co Imps.  Watches. 

S &  S Coni'n  Flour  and 

Grain. 
S W.  H Com'n  Prod. 

L.  V.  &  Co v Soap. 

Mrs.  M.  H Ret.  D.  G. 

M.  D Prod. 

Carriage  H'ware. 

D.  H Shipstores. 

S J.  P Com'n  Prod. 

S J Broker  Window  Glass. 

J Metal  Broker. 

J.  E Painter. 

Bros Whol.  B.  &  S. 

•R &  Co.Cotton,  Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

G.  A Builder. 


S Mrs.  R Mnfr.  Ladies'  Scarfs. 

S S.  M.  &  Son Builders,  e.tc. 

S H Cabinetmkr. 

S I.  G Printing  Presses,  etc. 

S J.  G Mnfr.  Clothing. 

S J.  D Peddler. 

S M Liquors. 

S C Upholstery. 

S Mrs.  M.E Cigars. 

[ S.  &  Co Hats. 

E Repacfcer. 

.  P.  &  Son: Drug  Brokers. 

J.  P Oils. 

S D.  W Hotel. 

S S.  A R.  E.  Agent. 

S H.  &  Co Ship  Brokers,  etc. 

S — —  &  D .Com'n  Bats  and  Twine. 

S__  &  W Fertilizers. 

S C.  H.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

S S.  &  Co Cloths. 

T &  R Cigar  Dealers. 

T J Mnfr.  Thermometers. 

T G Water  Wheels. 

T &  Son ....  Saleratus,  Spices,  etc. 

T C Jeweller. 

T &  Co Gold  Brokers. 

T Bros.  &  Co Shipping. 

T M.  E Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

T &  H Confec. 

T D Printer. 

T E.  W.,  Jr Mnfr.  Ruffles. 

T H.  A Jobber  Hosiery. 

T H.  H Cutlery. 

T J Restaurant. 

T J Contractor. 

T S.  W Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

T T A House. 

T T Printers'  Materials. 

T W.  R Saw  Mill. 

T A.  B.  P P &  M Co. 

T F.  B.  &  Co Oil  Shippers,  etc. 

T H.  &  J.  A.. Shipping  and  Com'n. 

T I &  Co Photographs. 

T &  Co Havana  Lottery. 

T &  D Paper  and  Paper 

Stock. 

T I Tobacco. 

T E Coatmkr. 

T E C.  A Lighters. 

T J.  H.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

T A Ret.  D.  G. 

T J Mnfr.  Window  Shades. 

T J.  R Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 

T Bros Leather,  etc. 

T W Gro. 

T Bros Jobbers  White  Goods. 

T H Co Heaters. 

T N.  C Photo.  Materials. 

T M Co Imitation  Jewelry. 

T W Restaurant. 

T G Liquors. 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


T J.  A.. .  .Broker,  Prov.  and  Petro- 
leum. 

T A.  J Liq.  and  Diamonds. 

T A.  A Com'n  Flour. 

T P.  J Stock  Broker. 

T W Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

T G.  J.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

T &  S Printers. 

T A.  D ". .  .Restaurant. 

T L Cotton  Goods. 

T Mrs.  R Corsets. 

T A.  E.  &  Co. .  .Com'n  Paints,  etc. 

T L.  &Co Imps.  D.  G. 

T &  M Jobbers  Millinery. 

T &  W Tailors. 

T &  Son Rubber  and  Leather 

Goods. 

T C.  E Stock  Broker. 

T H.  T.  &  Co Coal. 

T &  Co Agents  Composition 

Coating. 

T C.  &  Co Stationers. 

T W.  &  Co Purchasing  Agents. 

T J.  M.  &  E.  A Masons. 

T J.  R.  &  Co Ret.  Hats. 

T J.  V.  &  Co Prod. 

T J Photographer. 

T N.  &  Son. Books  and  Stationery. 

T M Co Meters. 

T O.  M Peddler. 

T A.  F.  &  Co Com'n  Soap,  etc. 

T &  Co Chemists. 

T Mme.  N.  &  Co Artificial 

Flowers. 

T Mrs.  M.  A Hotel. 

T A.  E.  &  C.  E Gen'l  Mers. 

T G.  H Jobber  Hosiery. 

T A.  &  J Jewelry  and  Men's 

Furn'g. 

T J.  D.  &  Co Jobbers  Jewelry. 

T R.  M.  &  Co Jobbers  Clo. 

T W.  S Polisher. 

T P Jeweller. 

T R.  &  Son Liquors. 

T D.  C Mnfr.  Ties. 

T W Mnfr.  Plated  Goods. 

T L.  &  Co. Straw  Goods,  Caps,  etc. 

T A.  L Packing  Boxes. 

T Bros Printers. 

T E.  S.  &  J.  ..Weather  Strips,  etc. 

T G &  Co Stationers,  etc. 

T W.  H Ship  Broker. 

T W.  A Publisher. 

T W.  H Com'n  Oilcloths. 

T J.  B Liquors. 

T F.  A Stationer. 

T W Jewelry. 

T I Jobber  Millinery. 

T M Jewelry. 

T W.  R Stocks. 

T J.  F.,  Agent Cotton  Goods. 


Mrs.  C.  M Lumber. 

Bros.  &  Z .Jobbers  F'cy  G'ds. 

M Tailor. 

C Lamps. 

J.  &  Son Mahogany,  etc. 

J Painter. 

Mrs.  A.  J. . .  .Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 
•E.  B Stationer. 

-  J.  E.  &  Son Whol.  Drugs. 

-  R.  M.  &  Co. . .  .Jobbers  Jewelry. 
-R Ret.  D.  G. 

-  J.  F.  &  Son Printers. 

-  Mrs.  J.  S Ret.  Millinery. 

-  &  G Stoneyard. 

-  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

-  &  L Fringes,  etc. 

-F.  W Feed. 

-H.  W Printer. 

-  Bros Bankers. 

-  J.  &  Co Oil,  Soap,  etc. 

-&  Co Prov. 

-  T Naval  Stores. 

-A Upholstery  Goods. 

-  J.  M  Com'n  Prod. 

-  H.  A Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

-C Oil. 

-  J Whol.  Liquors. 

-  M.  C.  &  Co Stationers. 

-  &  Co Iron  and  Steel. 

-  &  Co Printers. 

-  S Imp.  Bronze  Powder. 

-  W Artificial  Flowers. 

-  J.  C Sashes  and  Blinds. 

-I '.Tobacco. 

-  M.  C1 Stoves  and  Tinware. 

-  F Co. 

-  Capt.  E Liquors. 

L, . .  .Mnfr.  and  Jobber  Trim'gs. 

. .  Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 
.   Mineral  Waters. 


Co. 


A.  &  Co  ............  Publishers. 

W.  R  ...........  Stock  Broker. 

T.  C  .............  R.  E.  Broker. 

H.  &J.  A  ..............  Tailors. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


215 


&  Co Millers. 

Cattle  Dealer. 

.  M Cattle  Broker. 

S.  M Jeweller,  etc. 

&  W .Mnfrs.  Satchels. 

.  A.  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

&  Bro Sliip  Brokers. 

H.  T Coal. 

&  T Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

R W.  G...  Artificial  Flowers. 

J.  W Furniture. 

D M.  M Hotel. 

&  D .  .Mnfrs.  Sewing- 

Machine  Tops. 

Bros Hat  Leathers. 

J.  &  Son Willow  ware. 

H Gro. 

&  G .  Elastic  Sponges. 

jj &  Co Confec. 

0 J.  H Coal. 

p J   J. . .  .Lumber  and  Saw 

Mill. 

V p &  Co .  Shipping  and  Com'n. 

Y R J Imp.  Ales,  etc. 

y R J.  P.,  Jr. .  .Shipping  and 

,     Com'n. 

V s &  Co Chocolate. 

V M.  L Prod. 

V T A.  P.,  Jr. Marble  Works. 

y T M Co Founders' 

Facings. 

Y V A R.  E.  Broker. 

V W- H.  S.  &  Co.  .Com'n  Prod. 

V W A.  &  Son.Ship  Chandlers. 

Y W.  E Photographer. 

V M &  Bros Imps.  Cigars 

and  Tobacco. 

V F Co. 

V D Jewelry. 

y J.  A Whalebone. 

V C.  E Tea. 

V &  I Coal. 

V A.  H Fruit  Broker. 

Y &  Co Bankers. 

V T.  H.  Son Tobacco. 

Y J.  P Flowers. 

V Sons Family  Tea  Dealers. 

V A.  &  M Dressmkrs. 

Y &  B Liquors. 

Y F Imp.  Human  Hair. 

V C.  R.  &  Co Weather  Strips. 

V C Printer*. 

Y G Liquors. 

V P Cigars. 

V B.  &W Liquors. 

V H Marble. 

V B C.M Hatters'  Trim'gs. 

V C &  Co Hardware. 

Y S W.  &  Son.  .Shipping  and 

Com'n. 


V R Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

V J.  A Advg.  Agents. 

Y &  U Builders'  H'ware. 

V M Gro. 

W F Watch  Materials,  etc. 

W &  Co Bankers. 

W R.  J.  &  Co Glue  and  Sand- 
paper. 

W W Mnfr.  Suspenders. 

W F.  W Optical  Insts. 

W F Hair. 

W W.  E.  &  Co Jobbers  Fancy 

Goods. 

W &  H Com'n  Cotton,  etc. 

W T.  H Stock  Broker. 

W J .' Lumber. 

W &  F Com'n  Candles. 

W M.  E Jobber  Fancy  Goods. 

W A Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

W M Mnfr.  Neckties. 

W F.  R Paper. 

W G Gro. 

W E.  Sons Publishers. 

W &  W Builders. 

W T.  M Paper. 

W -D.  S Com'n  Fancy  Goods. 

W J Hatters'  Furs,  etc. 

W F.  B.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

W R Stock  Broker. 

W F.  &  Co Stock  Brokers,  etc. 

W Mrs.  M.  E Ret.  F'cy  Goods. 

W W Liquors. 

W S &  L Drugs. 

W G.  B.  &  Sons. . .  .Brokers  R.  R. 

Supplies. 

W &  W Glassware. 

W W.  H Fruit. 

W N Glassware. 

W C.  E.  &  Co Oils. 

W H &  Co Glasscutters. 

W J.  E.  &  Co Ship  Brokers. 

W &  W Jobbers  Cloths. 

W M Ret.  Millinery,  etc. 

W Bros.  &  Co Oil. 

W R D Co. 

W Dr.  J.  M Patent  Meds. 

W &  W . . .  .Pub'rs  and  Book- 
sellers. 

W D Prov. 

W M.  B R.  R.  Supplies. 

W—  T M Co Miners- 
Tools,  etc. 

W E Blue  Stone. 

W A.  G Drug  Broker. 

W B Ret.  Men's  Furn'g  Goods. 

W W.  H.  &  Co Coal. 

W H.  &  Son Pianofortes. 

W C.  C Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

W E.  J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Silk. 

W &  D Iron  Works. 


216 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


W J.  S Tinware. 

W &  G Wines,  etc. 

W G.  B Exchange  Broker. 

W J.  A Liquors. 

W Mrs.  M.  F House  Furn'g. 

W H.  W .Mnfr.  Trimmings. 

W F.  W Wool  Puller. 

W P Glass  Shades. 

W L &  Co Dealers  and 

Smelters  Lead. 

W L Co. 

W &  McN Tobacco. 

W Bros Builders. 

W &  Co. Hotel. 

W P Paper  Stock  and  Mnfr. 

Clothing. 

W H Glue,  etc. 

W L Cigars,  etc. 

W Mrs.P China. 

W &  R Canned  Goods. 

W H.  &  Son Eet.  B.  and  S. 

W H Mnfr.  Hydrometers. 

W H Mnfr.  Straw  Goods. 

W &  Co Jet  Goods. 

W W Mnfr.  Dress  Trim'gs. 

W &  De  G Guns  and 

Pistols. 

W W &  Co Hide  Brokers. 

W K &  Co Imps.  Liquors. 

W J.  G.  &  Co Publishers. 

W J.  C.  &  Co Drugs,  etc. 

W J Loan  Broker. 

W &  Bro Cotton  Waste. 

W B Extension  Tables. 

W G.  J Ret.  Drugs. 

W &  Co Com'n  Domestic  D.  G. 

W H Gro. 

W J Furs,  etc. 

W R Mnfr.  Ruffles. 

W E.  T H'ware  and  House 

Furn'g. 

W &  S M Co. . . .  .Picture 

Frames. 

W P N M &  P 

Co. 

\V C &  Co Shipping  and 

Com'n. 

W M Coal. 

W M Leather. 

W J Restaurant  and  Liq. 

W N Blinds  and  Doors. 

W F.  G. . . . Mnfr.  Presses. 

W R Wines. 

W W.  A Gen'l  Com'n. 

W Bros Imps.  Fancy  Goods. 

W A.,  Jr Com'n  Flowers. 

W A.  D Bookseller. 

W R.  C Steamboats. 

W &  D Com'n  Prod. 

W C.  H.  &  Co House  Furn'g 

Goods. 


W W.  L.,  Jr Whol.  B.  and  S. 

W M Co Silversmiths. 

W W.  H.  &  Co.  .Mnfg.  Jewellers. 

W S.  V Teas. 

W W.  M Stock  and  Bond 

Broker. 

W &  W Stock  Brokers. 

W L A Co. 

W S B A Co. 

\V &  H H Co. 

W M Co Saddletrees. 

W J Drugs. 

W R.,  Jr. . .  .Mnfr.  Ladies'  Cloth- 
ing. 

W Mrs.  R Fancy  Goods. 

W &  Van  L Paints,  etc. 

W &  H Com'n  Lime,  etc. 

W H.  R Com'n  and  Broker. 

W J.  H.  Co Bedding. 

W M.  A.,  Son  &  Co Lumber. 

W T.,  Jr.,  &  Co.  . .  .Mnfrs.  Solder. 

W H Shipping  Broker. 

W D.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Hatters' 

Goods. 

W W.  A Locking-Glasses. 

W J.  S.  M Co Looking- 

Glasses. 

W H.  C Ret.  Men's  Furn'g. 

W H.  S House  Furn'g. 

W J.  H Cattle. 

W A.  P.  &  Co Letter  Holders. 

W G..  N.  &  N.  A Stoneyard. 

W H.  C.  &  Co Stock  and  Bond 

Brokers. 

W J.  F.  &  Co .Jewelry. 

W J.  H.  &  Sons Cattle  Brokers. 

W J.  C.  &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

W P.  H.  &  W Fringes. 

W S &  Co.Mnfrs..  and  Jobbers 

Linen  and  Lace  Goods. 

W W &  C Hardware. 

W &  G .  .Shipping  and  Com'n. 

W J Sashes. 

W G &  Co Sugar  Refiners. 

W J Agent  Flour  and  Grain. 

W A Builder. 

W G Steam  and  Gas  Fitter. 

W 1 Co. 

W J.  J.. Cement  and  Slate  Broker. 

W T Broker  Flour  and  Grain. 

W W Liquors. 

W W.  H Crockery. 

W H.  S.  &  Bro Bankers. 

W J.  H.  &  Co Auctioneers. 

W &  G .Imps.  Shawls,  White 

Goods,  etc. 

W &  L .  .Wines  and  Billiards. 

W J Ret.  Clothing. 

W T.  D Hotel. 

W &  Co Patent  Meds. 

W H Co. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


217 


W &  E Chemicals,  etc. 

W &  W Com'n  Wool, 

Blankets,  etc. 

W I Shippers'  Agent. 

W &  D Fruit  Brokers. 

W C Fancy  Goods. 

W C.  A Ret.  Shoes. 

W &  Me  A Sign  Painters. 

W &  B Wool. 

W A Neckties. 

W C Carriagemaker. 

W C Colors. 

W &  M Mnfg.  Jewellers. 

W J Mnf r.  Underwear. 

W &  Q Cotton  Brokers. 

W B Jobber  Millinery. 

W C Hats,  etc. 

W J Jobber  Hosiery,  etc. 

W L Ret.  Clothing. 

W M Storage. 

W W Jobber  D.  G. 

W &  Bro . . .  Diamond  Brokers,  etc. 

W S Whol.  Liquors. 

W C.  H Brushes  and  Bristles. 

W G.  R Iron  Broker. 

W Mrs.  J.  H Coal. 

W P Oyster  Saloon. 

W W.  A Oils. 

W Bros.  Co Carriages. 

W C &  Co Government 

Supplies. 

W J Gro.  and  Liq. 

W Mrs.  S.  A Stationery. 

W &  R .  ..Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

W W.  J Southern  Com'n. 

W S P M Co. 

W D.  A Ret.  Stationer. 

W S.  &  Co Tailors'  Trim'gs. 

W &  Co Feathers. 

W &  Co Artificial  Stone. 

W &  N Stock  Brokers. 

W W.  E Sewing  Machines 


H.  P Stock  Broker. 

W.  J. . .  .Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

J.  G.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

W.  P.  &  Co Cotton  Brokers. 

&  M . . .  .Jobbers  Millinery. 

&  S Gen'l  Com'n,  etc. 

F.  &  Co Hotel. 

A Paper  Box  Mkr. 

J Gro. 

A.  &  Co.  .Imps.  Insect  Powder. 

J.  E Mdse.  Broker. 

&  Co Mdse.  Brokers. 

W.  A Mnfr.  Trimmings. 

M Clothing. 

:  T Clothing. 

J.  H.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

E.  T Tea  Broker. 

G.G....Agt.U S E 

Co. 

J.  N Pianos. 

L.  .*....  .Jobber  Hats,  Caps,  and 
Furs. 

M.  &  Co Perfumery,  etc. 

T.  S.  &  Co Whol.  Clothing. 

&  McC Com'n  Cotton. 

&  Co Com'n  Cuban  Sugar. 

H.  A. . .  .Stock  and  Gold  Broker. 

A Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes 

B Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

G Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

J Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

D Mnfr.  Hair  Goods. 

S.  &  F Jobbers  Millinery. 

.'  A Furniture. 

J.  &  Co Furniture. 

D Optician,  etc. 

B.  H Cabinetmkr. 

B.  B Ret.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

W Wood  Turner. 

F.  &  F .  .Imps.  Musical  Insts 

"   Co Window  Glassi 

H. . .  . .  .Leaf  Tobacco. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


218 


THE   COMMEECIAL  AGENCIES. 


BROOKLYN 


T. 


A Mrs.  H Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

A J.  &  K Spring  Mattresses. 

A M Fancy  Goods. 

A J.  W Machinist. 

A C Liquors. 

A D Liquors. 

A J Men's  Furn'g. 

American  E &  B G Co. 

A T.  W Gro. 

A R  Tailor  and  Clothing. 

A &Co : D.  G. 

A J Baker. 

A J.  H Coppersmith. 

B W.  W Auctioneer. 

B E.  H Carpets. 

B J Fancy  Goods. 

B Bros Carpets. 

B S t...D.G. 

B J.  &  J Painters. 

B P.  J Men's  Furn'g. 

B L Lager  Beer. 

B W Drugs. 

B G Painter. 

B W.  J Jeweller. 

B &  M— — Billiards  and  Liq. 

B B Clothing. 

B S.,  Jr Crockery. 

B Mrs.  J.  H Shoes. 

B K Baker. 

B A  D.  G.,  etc. 

B &  N Gtro. 

.  C.  &  Co Awnings. 

S.  A Hats  and  Caps. 

&  C . . .        , Flour  Mills. 

A Gro. 

Mrs.  W.  G Fancy  Goods. 

Mrs.  A Millinery,  etc. 

Mrs.  R Women's  Underwear. 

B Mrs.  M Hats,  Caps,  and  Furs. 

B C.  H Mnfr.  Straw  Goods. 

B T.  J Boots  and  Shoes. 

B S.  C.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Dress 

Trimmings. 

B &  L Paper  Stock. 

B &  D Brass  Finishers. 


Mrs.  P Gro. 

&  H Chromos. 

M Wagonmkr. 

J * Brewer. 

&  Co Coopers. 

&  S Mnfrs.  Carriages. 

M , . . . .  Scrap  Iron. 

P.  H Liquors. 

&  S Liquors. 

B Liquors. 

Coal. 

II Liquors. 

J.  N Charcoal. 

B.  &  Son Tailors. 

T.  P .Boots  and  Shoes. 

J Iron  Railings. 

A.  A Brewer. 

D Soap 

P Tinsmith. 

J.  &  W Builders. 

W.  G.  &  Co Variety  Store. 

A.  C.  &  Co. Plumbers'  Materials. 

I.  H Builder. 

D Gro. 

T.  H Builder. 

.  W Wood. 

W.  H Builder. 

H.  A Drugs. 

T Furniture. 

J.  S Real  Estate. 

T.  &  Co Marble,  etc. 

P Steam  Engines. 

&  B Boots  and  Shoes. 

&  Co Hair,  etc. 

J.  D.  &  Sou Jewellers. 

I Clothing. 

&  Co Toys. 

R Hotel. 

R.  &  Son Marble. 

C Liquors. 

T.  H Artists'  Materials,  etc. 

Mrs.  W Fancy  Goods. 

C Boilermkr. 

E.  A Coal. 

R.  S Boots  and  Shoes. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


219 


C E.  E Mnfr.  Oil-Can  Stoppers. 

C J.  E Presses,  etc. 

C W.  H Trunks. 

C W.  P R.  E.  Agent. 

C W.  A Fancy  Goods. 

C T.  A Shipbuilder. 

C J.  H Foundry. 

C J Fancy  Goods. 

C C.  H House  Furn'g  Goods. 

J Teas,  Coffees,  etc. 

T.  F.  &Co F'cy  G. 

E Printer. 

W.  II Shirtmkr. 

•  H Crockery,  etc. 

tailor. 

T.  W Auctioneer. 

J.  A Rectifier. 

W.  W Hats  and  Caps. 

D J &  Co Iron  Founders. 

D T.  S Builder. 

D P Gro. 

D S E.  F Books  and  Stat'y. 

D R.  B Sewing  Machines. 

D E  Soda  Water. 

D C Gro. 

D A.  W Restaurant. 

D P Wagons. 

D J Hats-  and  Caps. 

D T.  O.  M Builder. 

D W Builder. 

D W.  F Paints  and  H'ware. 

D D Stat'r  and  Printer. 

D J,  C Tailor. 

D &  Co Soaps. 

D J Stairbuilder. 

D W.  E Mnfr.  Hats, 

D D Liquors. 

.L Painter. 

J.  C.  &Co D.  G. 

r.  W Gro. 

D Mrs.  E D.  G. 

D A Cloaks,  etc. 

D C Carriagemkr. 

D Mrs.  A.  A Dress  Trim'gs. 

D C.  H Men's  Furn'g. 

E &  McK Stoves. 

F J.  P Hoopskirts  and  F,  G. 

F J Boots  and  Shoes. 

F J.  &  Co Gro. 

F A.  S House  Furn'g  Goods. 

F A Wines  and  Liq. 

F R Gro. 

F Bros Liquors. 

F J.  F.  &  Co Tobacco. 

F L Men's  Furn'g.  , 

F J.  W Cooper. 

F M.  B Drugs. 

F C Leather  and  Findings. 

F C.  E Bedding. 

F H Storage. 

F Mrs.  S ...D.G. 


F W.  L Upholsterer. 

F J.  F Pianomkr. 

F J.  S Hats  and  Caps. 

F J.  M Hotel. 

F S.  W Boots  and  Shoes. 

F B Brewer. 

G J Fancy  Goods. 

G B Builder. 

G M.  F.  &  E.  J. .  .Woollen  Goods. 

G B Brewer. 

G T Soaip. 

G O Liquors. 

G P Liquors. 

G M .Gro. 

G &  S Crockery. 

G J Fancy  and  D.  G. 

&  Co Pianog. 

.Washboards. 

R Co. 

G Mrs.  P Fancy  Goods. 

G C.  H Fancy  Goods. 

G F.  C Tailor. 

H II Fancy  and  D.  G. 

H D.  F Carpets. 

H T.  A Builder. 

H H Hardware. 

H Bros Brassworkers. 

H J.  M Books,  etc. 

H Mrs.  R Fancy  Goods  and 

Millinery. 

H D Clothing. 

H H.  A Jeweller. 

H J Saloon. 

H S D.G. 

H R D.  G. 

H Mrs.  G.  F. . .  .Ret.  Fancy  Goods. 

H J Tailor. 

H W.  J Mnfr.  Skirts. 

H G.  A Painter. 

H G.  H. .  .Mnfr.  Children's  Shoes. 

H Mrs.  C Teas. 

H &  B Roofers. 

H P Liquors. 

H J Tailor. 

H Mrs.  E.  A Hairdresser. 

H H Turner. 

H H.P Gro. 

H L Tailor. 

H J.  &  Co Gro. 

H S Gro. 

H W.  E.  &  Co Foundry. 

H H. 

H &  M Men's  Furn'g. 

H P.  &  Co D.G. 

H R.  R.  &  Co Mnfrs. 

H T.  M Upholstery. 

H J Sewing  Machines. 

H J Liquors. 

H J.  C.  &  Co Stoves. 

H C.  G Dressmkr. 

H T Hats  and  Caps. 


220 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


-II Mnfr.  Shoes. 

_  &  V Tailors. 

C Brewer. 

E Gro. 

Bros Marble  Works. 

C Carpenter  and  Builder. 

L.  &  M Livery. 

.  H Chemist. 

-C.  M Books. 

-  W.  E , ...  Marble. 

-  Q.  H Fancy  Goods. 

-  S.,  Jr.,  &  Son Oil  Works. 

-A.  F Builder. 

-  W.  W Hats  and  Caps. 

-  T Liquors. 

-  H.  C Liquors. 

-H.  A Gro. 

-  C Fancy  D.  G. 


-  M.  J Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  Mrs.  A.  E Stoneyard. 

-  &  M Liquors. 

-  L. . . , Stoneyard. 

-  Bros Gro. 

-T... Coal  and  Wood. 

-  R Boots  and  Shoes. 

-F Gro. 

-  H Brewer. 

-E.  S Tailor. 

-  R.  D Jeweller. 

-  J.  S.  &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

-  &  R Builders. 

—  A Liquors. 

-  M Plumber. 

-  J.  J.\ Auction. 

-  G Coal. 

-E. Builder. 

-  P Drugs. 

-M.  M Millinery. 

-N Tailor. 

-  Misses Fancy  Goods. 

-A D.  G. 

-  W.  M Carpets. 

-P.  W Builder. 

-  F H.  A Men's  Furn'g. 

-  Bros Gro. 

-  J Mnfr.  Chemicals. 

-  J Mason. 

-  P Fancy  Goods. 

-H.  S Builder. 

-A Sashmkr. 

-  L Fancy  Goods. 

-  B.  &  Co R.  E.  Brokers,  etc. 

-&  Co. .  .Mnfrs.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  B Liquors. 

-  A Clothing. 

-&  S Coal. 

-H D.  G. 

-  B Millinery. 

-  S Picture  Frames. 

-  S Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  I. . .  Butcher. 


L Bros .Fancy  Good?. 

L J Builder. 

L S Slat  Matting. 

L W.  R Liquors. 

L J.  &Co D.  G. 

&  P Plumbers. 

1.0 Hotel. 

G.  R Brewer. 

H Gro. 

L Gro. 

-  I M Co. 

L P.  &  Co Painters. 

L T.  C.  &  J.  C Saloon. 

L L Clothing. 

L M Clothing. 

L M Liquors. 

L S.  B.  &  Co D.  G. 

McB J.  H Painter. 

McC Mrs.  P Glass,  etc. 

McC M.  C Restaurant. 

McD M Liquors. 

McE &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

McF J.  Jr Boilermkr. 

McF T Hoopskirts. 

McG A Plumber. 

McG— —  S Fancy  Goods. 

McG W.  A Ship  Chandler. 

McG M.  J Jeweller. 

McG J Builder. 

McG J Clothing. 

McK J.  H Hotel. 

McK F.  &  W Liquors. 

McK P Liquors. 

McL J.  S Builder. 

McM P.  &  Son Furniture. 

McM A D.G. 

McM Mrs.  S D.  G. 

M Mrs.  E Boots  and  Shoes. 

M Mrs.  J Liquors. 

M J.  T , Tailor. 

M &  Bro Gro. 

M E.  H Plumber. 

M G.  L Stairbuilder. 

M Mrs.  R Hoops. 

M J.  B Liquors. 

M &  S \ Furniture. 

M J.  B *» , Trusses. 

M R.  T Crockery. 

M J.  F Fishing  Tackle. 

M B Clocks. 

M J Fancy  Goods. 

M P Tailor. 

M R Tassels. 

M V gewingM. 

M G.  &  E.  J Drugs  and  Liq. 

M S.  A ^ Paints. 

M L .* . .  .Upholster,er. 

M Mrs.  E Fancy  Goods. 

M S Fancy  Goods. 

M &  Co f Mnfrs.  Oils. 

M A Builder. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


221 


M Mrs.  P Fancy  Goods. 

M &  Co Iron  Founders. 

M A Hardware. 

M J Liquors. 

M C Mnfr.  Tools. 

M J Liquors. 

M T.  J.  &  Co Foundry. 

M D Bedding. 

M S : .  .Teas  and  Spices. 

M M Fancy  Goods. 

M R &  Co Mnfrs.  Braids. 

M H Fancy  Goods. 

M L.  M Fancy  Goods. 

M T Liquors. 

M C Builder. 

M W Liquors. 

M &  L Cotton  Dealers. 

M &  R Liquors. 

M J.  H Planter. 

X R Printer. 

N A.  A Liquors. 

X A.  D Liquors. 

X F Gro. 

N &  g Mnfrs.  Shoes. 

X W Fancy  and  D.  G. 

X X.  T Painter. 

X I W . 

X J.  D Drugs. 

X &  F Machinists. 

X F.  T Hatter. 

O'D P Gro.  and  Liq. 

O'X J.  H Wireworker. 

O J.  W Hoopskirts. 

O F.  W Hats,  etc. 

O H.  B D.  G. 

O R Builder. 

O R.R Baker. 

P &  S Men's  Furn'g. 

P T Roasting  Mills. 

P C Storage. 

P M.  C Builder. 

P S F. 

—  W.  S Photographer. 

P A Hardware. 

P J.  D.  &  Son. . .  .Flour  and  Grain. 

P C Tailor. 

P &  Son Pianos. 

P H Hotel. 

P W ' Ales,  etc. 

P L Painter. 

P J Clothing. 

P &  R Carriagemkrs. 

P J   Teas. 

P E Shoes. 

P F.  T Fancy  and  D.  G. 

P J.  H Mnfr.  Hats. 

P D Window  Shades. 

P Mrs.  T.  H Fancy  Goods. 

P &  H Mnfrs.  Soap. 

R W Carriages. 

R &  Co Fruits. 


R C Cabinetmkr. 

R II.  F.  &  Co Paperhangiugs 

and  Paints. 

R Mrs.  I.  II Boots  and  Shoes. 

R A.  P Carpenter,  etc. 

R M D.G. 

R J Tailor. 

R Mrs.  S.  B Skirts  and  Corsets. 

R C.  D Roofing  Materials. 

R Bros Restaurant. 

R C.  W Cigars,  etc. 

R F Baker. 

R R Coppersmith. 

R T Builder. 

R W Builder. 

R J.  F Fancy  Toilet  Articles. 

R J.  B Painter. 

R J.  S Jeweller. 

R W.  S Builder. 

R T.  W Builder. 

—  J Liquors. 

R J Fancy  Goods. 

R M Boots  and  Shoes. 

Hats,  Caps  and  Furs. 

P Gro. 

J.  &  Co Furniture. 

.  H Men's  Furn'g  G. 

A.  R Billiards. 

S &  Co Door  Knobs. 

S J Brewer. 

S L &  M Furniture. 

S E.  A Drugs. 

S H Clothing. 

S B Clothing. 

S J Mnfr.  Brooms. 

S J Mouldings. 

S C Paperhangings. 

S J Carriages  and  Livery 

Stable. 

S &  Co Brewers. 

S B Boots  and  Shoes. 

S Boots  and  Shoes. 

J.  P Brewer. 

H Contractor. 

I.  S Liq.  and  Billiards. 

M Clothing. 

"    H Builder. 

E Tailor. 

J Cutlery. 

S J.  P Boxinaker. 

S G Painter. 

S B Builder. 

S C.  B Builder. 

S Mrs.  M.  A Hoopskirts,  etc. 

S H.  G • Millwright. 

S B Boots  and  Shoes. 

S Bros Rectifiers  and  Distillers. 

S P Boots  and  Shoes. 

S J.  E Dry  Dock  Builder. 

S A Sashes. 

S E.  E. . .  . .  .Gro. 


THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


S F.B D.G. 

S G.  H Teas. 

S L.  H Drugs. 

S W Saw  Mill. 

S II.  S.  &  E.  H Trimmings. 

S &  A Umbrellamkrs. 

S J D.G. 

S L Gro. 

J Planing  Mill. 

Co. 

W 

Gro. 

S- —  F Painter. 

Bros Tailors'  Trim'gs  and 

Shoes. 

Bros Builders. 

Shipbuilder. 

H.  W.  ..V R T Co. 

L.D Tailor. 

•N D.  G. 

•  J.  B D.  G.  Auctioneer. 

S I Clothing. 

S &  Co Gro. 

S J Liquors. 

S H Jeweller. 

S Mrs.  D House  Furn'g. 

.  .Liquors. 

T.  W Builder. 

E.  &Co ....D.  G. 

M Painter. 

J.  &  Bro Furniture. 

J Boots  and  Shoes. 

C.  H Hats. 

T C.  F Pianos. 

T E.  J Hats. 

T F.  J Wrought-Iron. 

T Mrs.  A.  M Stoves. 

T J Liquors. 

T A.  M Clothing. 

T Mrs.  M Fancy  Goods. 

T W.  A Auctioneer. 

T J Foundry. 

T Miss  M. .  .Children's  Carriages. 

T E.  O Restaurant. 

T S.  H Dentist. 

U J.  G Drugs. 

U J.  S Boilers. 

—  S M Co Pumps. 

V S Hotel. 

V N J.  B Boots  and  Shoes. 

V S J.  B Liquors. 

V W R.  &  Co. Carpenters  and 

Builders. 
V T.  S Hotel 


V J.,Jr Gro. 

V Bros Gro. 

V P Boot  and  Shoes 

V D B Confec. 

V H Confec. 

W &  C Painters. 

W R.  &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

W C.  R.  M Maltster. 

W J Painter. 

W &  M Carriages. 

W H Sashes  and  Blinds. 

W J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Glass. 

W T Coachmaker. 

W T &  Co Auctioneers. 

W A.  E Gro. 

W A Tinsmith. 

W Mrs.  E.  F Fancy  Goods. 

W W.  H Hardware  and  House 

Furn'g. 

W &  P Lumber. 

W C Tailor. 

W J.  E Plumber. 

W J Boots  and  Shoes. 

W H Liquors. 

W E Flour  and  Feed. 

W A Clothing. 

W G D.  G. 

\V H Tinware. 

W M.  L Fancy  Goods. 

W J Brewer. 

W L.  &  Co Furniture. 

W Mrs.  M Hoopskirts. 

W J.  W.  &  Son D.  G. 

W J. .  , Crockery. 

W C.  F Fancy  Goods. 

W M &  L Co. 

W W Books,  Toys,  etc. 

W &  N Machinists. 

W W.  &  Co.. Mnfrs.  Brass  Hinges. 

W I.  F Fancy  Goods. 

W H.  B.  &  Co Carriages. 

W J.  &  Co Cigars. 

W &  N Whol.  Gro. 

W A.  M Storage. 

W C.  R Baker. 

W Mrs.  E Fancy  Goods. 

W J.  L Gro. 

W D Boots  and  Shoes. 

W M Cabinetmaker. 

W Mrs.  T Fancy  Goods. 

W L &  Co Gro.  and  Prov. 

Y Dr.  W Mnfr.  Sauces. 

Y &  Son Prov. 

Z J.  B R.  E.  Agent. 


THE  SYSTEM  EXPOSED. 


223 


ALBANY,  K   Y. 


A &  V .  .Looking  Glasses,  etc. 

A C.  W Grain. 

B B Tailor. 

B S Crockery,  etc. 

B &  L Crockery,  etc. 

B Son  &  Co Lumber. 

B K.  S.  &  Co Gro. 

B &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

B &  P Flour. 

B D.  G Coal,  Gro.,  etc. 

B &  D Pk.  Packers. 

B I Brkr.  and  Clothing. 

B A.  M.  &  Co Gro. 

B J Watches. 

C W Boots  and  Shoes. 

C O Gro. 

C W. ..  .....Coal. 

C M.  L Gro. 

C J Poultry,  Fruit,  etc. 

C S &  Co Lumber. 

C Bros Bk'g  Powder. 

C J.  &  Son .Pianos. 

C A.  M Flour,  etc. 

C P Cooper. 

D &  K Lumber. 

D R.  C.  &  Co Clothing. 

D P &  L Boots  and 

Shoes. 

D J.  W.  &  Co Paper-hangings. 

E C.  P.  &  Co Lumber. 

E J Gro.,  etc. 

P N.  A Grain. 

G J.  &  Co Carriages,  etc. 

G R.  J Coal. 

G P.  H Coppersmith. 

H W.  &  Co Oysters  and  Fruit. 

H J Furniture,  etc. 

H &  D Hay,  etc. 

H G : Saloon. 

H J.  H Music  Store. 

H J.  L.  &  C Lumber. 

J J...  ...Gro. 


L H.  V.  R.,  Jr Gents'  Furn'g. 

L I Millinery. 

L J.  W Carpenter. 

McA C Tailor. 

McC F Eating-house. 

McD H. Carriages. 

McD Bros D.  Gds. 

McK P.  B.  &  Co Candles,  etc. 

McK &  Co Flour,  Grain,  etc. 

M J.  W Billiard  Saloon. 

M Bros Gro. 

M J Lqrs. 

M &  T Com'n. 

M B D.  G. 

O G Clothing. 

O E D.  G.,  etc. 

P J Contractor. 

p &  McL Coal. 

P J.  A D.  G. 

S F.  A Builder,  etc. 

S P Tailor. 

S R.  H Guns,  etc. 

S Bros Cabinetmkrs. 

S C &  Co Lumber. 

S S &  W Tobacco. 

S &  H Paper,  etc. 

S R.  &  Co Silver-plated  Ware. 

T Mrs.  M Fancy  Gds. 

T W Drugs. 

T &  W Carpets. 

T C.  H Physician. 

T L &  Co Wheels. 

V C.  C.&Co Drugs. 

W Mrs.  J.  M Dressmkr. 

W S.  F Flour,  Grain,  etc. 

W C Carpets. 

W J Gro.,  etc. 

W P.  H Doors,  etc. 

W W.  M.  &  Co D.  G. 

W W.  H.  &  Sons Watches. 

W A Whol.  Gro. 

W W  P , Provisions. 

W H Moulding  Sand. 


[TO    BE    CONTINUED.] 


224 


THE  COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


ATLANTA,   GA. 


A J.  W Planter. 

A J.  W.  &  C.  F Nursery. 

A W.  J Planter. 

A W.  C Planter. 

A J.  S  Stoves,  etc. 

A H.  W Planter. 

Gro. 

W Planter. 

W.  E Printer. 

C.F Music. 

B L.  E Grocer. 

B Mrs.  F.  M Planter. 

C.  B.  &Co Gro. 

&G Agts. 

.  S Gen.  Store. 

B J.  E. .  * Gro. 

B E Fancy  Gds. 

B G.  A Gen.  Store. 

B &  D Liquors,  etc. 

C F.  M Planter. 

C W.  T Gro. 

C G.  W Planter. 

D S Planter. 

D S.  H .Saddler. 

E &F D.  G.  etc. 

E H Gro. 

F G.  H.  &  A.  W. Boots  and  Shoes. 

F W Planter. 

F &  E Plumbers. 

F J Planter. 

G S Planter. 

G W.  R...  ...Planter. 


G W &  Co Music,  etc. 

H T.  J Gro.,  etc. 

H G.  F.  &  A.  F Com'n,  etc. 

J M.  W Ag'l  Implts.,  etc. 

J M.  W.  &  Bro Com'n,  etc. 

J P Liquors. 

L W.  B.  &  Co Clothing. 

L L D.  G. 

L H Foundry. 

L C.  H Planter. 

McC R.  P Planter. 

McN W.  &  Co Mills. 

M &  J Lumber. 

N D Grocer. 

O'N J Grocer. 

O P.  R • Planter. 

O E Planter. 

P &  W Restaurant. 

P F &  Co D.  G. 

P W.  R,,  Jr.,  &  Co Gro.,  etc. 

P P Co. 

R A.  J.  K.  P Planter. 

R G.  C Saddler. 

R J.C Gro. 

C.  H.  &  Co Cotton  Bkrs. 

Planter. 

F.  M Gro. 

L.  S ' Planter. 

J Drugs. 

E Miller. 

-  J.  L Furniture. 

_  &  C Stk.  Yard. 


[TO   BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


225 


AUBUEIsr,  K  T. 


A A. . .' Shoes. 

A S.  H Stoves,  etc. 

B C.  S.,  Sr Lqrs. 

B Bros.  &  Co Machinists. 

B C.  P Miller. 

B &  Son Distillers. 

C M Gro. 

C &  Bro H'dware. 

C E.  D H'dware. 

D J Gro.,  etc. 

D G J Gro. 

D &  S M Co. 

G D.  C Lime. 

H A.  B Printer. 

K W.  H Bricks. 

M P Co. 

M &  Co Sashes,  etc. 

0 D.  M.  &  Co Reapers,  etc. 


P &  H D.  G. 

P W &  H Coal. 

P &  N Clothing. 

P H.  R.  &  C.  W Lumber. 

Q I.  W Machinist,  etc. 

R A Marble. 

R W.H D.  G. 

R D.  C.  &  G.  W Cab't  Ware. 

S &  Co Flour,  etc. 

S &  P Patents. 

S J.  D.  &Co D.  G. 

S B.  B.  &  Co..Mnfrs.  Cornshellers. 

S E.  G.  &  Son Agents. 

T Mrs.  Dr.  M.  A Milliner. 

T D Gro. 

T N Boots  and  Shoes. 

V V &L D.  G. 


[TO   BE    CONTINUED.] 


226 


THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


BALTIMOEE,  MD. 


A W.  H.  &  Co Oyster  Packers. 

A — -  T &  Co Auctioneers,  etc. 

A E D.  G. 

American  F I Co. 

A &  D Furniture. 

B M Notions. 

B J.  J. . . Provisions. 

B C Shoes. 

B S Wines,  etc. 

B G.  W Hardware. 

B G Brewery. 

B J Brewery. 

B &  H .Gen'l  Com'n. 

B &  B Furniture. 

B J Shoes. 

B J Shoes. 

B D.  G Tobacco. 

B &  H Tailors. 

B H Liquors. 

B W Foundry,  etc. 

J Books. 

R.  &  Sons Whol.  Shoes. 

R.  P Books,  etc. 

Coaches. 

G.  H Paints,  Oils,  etc. 

B C.  II.  &  J Silverplaters. 

B W.  C Grocer. 

B &  Bro Shoes. 

&  Co Oysters. 

Bros.  &  Co Drugs. 

U R Gro. 

C &  W F'cy  Gds. 

E.  J Lumber. 

H &  Co Founders. 

P.  H Broker. 

P.  E.  &  Co Gents'  Gds. 

R.  B Hotel. 

&  T Boilers. 

C G.  W Mnfr.  Cotton  Bats 

and  Wadding. 

C &  Co Stoves. 

C T.  R Lqrs. 

C G.  W.  M Shoes. 

C J Periodicals. 

C J Whol.  Lqrs.,  etc. 

C &  Co Books,  etc. 


C J.  W Hdware. 

D J.  F.  W Stencils. 

?.  F.  &  Co. Druggists'  Sundries. 

r.o D.  G. 

&  Co Gro. 

...; Saw  Mill. 

E J.  R.  &  Co Boots,  Hats,  etc. 

E S.  A.  &  Co Oysters,  etc. 

F J Millinery. 

F S Stoves, 

F H Baker. 

F M.  L Plumber. 

F N Junk. 

F &  B Mirrors,  etc. 

G Sons  &  Co Cotton  Duck 

G C C Co. 

G S Tavern. 

G J Silverplater. 

G H.  T.  &  T Com'n. 

G Bros.  &  Co Gro. 

G H.  C Distiller. 

G J Imp.  and  Com'n  Fruits. 

G I Clothing. 

H A.  G.  &  Co Laces,  etc. 

H S.  M Coal,  etc. 

H J.M Coal. 

H B.  F Flour,  etc. 

H C.  &  Co Printers. 

H J.  H Whol.  Notions. 

H C.  &  Son Contractors. 

H G.  C Books,  etc. 

H J.  &  Co Clothing. 

H J.  G Tinware,  etc. 

H W.  J Cabinetmkr. 

H J.,  Jr Fertilizers,  etc. 

J S.  M.  &  Co Coal  Shippers. 

K H Gro.,  etc. 

K H.  &  Son D.  G. 

K Bros Prov. 

K W.  H.  &  Co Whol.  Paint?. 

Oils,  etc. 

K Bros Chandlery,  etc. 

K J.  H.,  Jr Lumber. 

K J.  &  Co Prov. 

L H Tobacco. 

L S.  S.  &  Sen Iron  and  Coal. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


227 


L A D.  G. 

L- S.  C Hotel. 

L D Leather. 

McC W Carriages. 

McC T.  &  Co Lqrs. 

McC T Bakery. 

McG O Co. 

McL- S.  R Gro. 

M G.  W Books,  etc. 

M- —  C.  B.  &  Co Gro. 

M Bros Cigars. 

M It  &  Sons Crackers. 

M J.  H Furniture. 

M J Gro.,  etc. 

M C &  Co Tailors. 

M M Hoop  Skirts,  etc. 

M J.  &  Co Agency. 

M F Shoes. 

M &  Bro Paperhangings. 

M B.  &  Bro Cloths. 

N A.  &  Sons Gro.,  etc. 

N F.  H D.  G.,  etc. 

.N E  Shoes. 

O'C II Carriages. 

t> &  G Bros Mldgs. 

P G Brewery. 

P A.  B.  &  Co Stock  Broker. 

P A.  &  Co Com'n  Lumber. 

P G.  G.,  Jr Capitalist. 

P &  II Lumber. 

P W.  G.  &  Co Com.  and  Fruit. 

P H.B Gro. 

P G.  P.  &  Co.  .Confec.  and  Fruits. 

II A Tobacco. 

R T Liquors. 

R &  W Carriages. 


M R and  0 Co. 

.H Gasfitter. 

G Brewer. 

J.  L.  &  Bro Fruit. 

R J.  A.  &  Co Shoes. 

S P.  D.  &  Co Carriages. 

S M.  L.  &  Co Books,  etc. 

S J Bookbinder,  etc. 

S E Hosiery. 

S C Gro. 

S J.  &  Co Broker. 

S C Brewer. 

! Bros Regalias. 

Bldrs. 

i.  J Oysters. 

S H.  &  Co Clothing. 

S S I D.Cr. 

S—  C.  P Furniture. 

S J.  D Livery  Stables. 

S A.  &  Sou Turners. 

S V Carpets. 

S D.  S Ice. 

T S.  G Machinist. 

T W.  H ....  .Preserves. 

T N.  &  Co Leather. 

T L &  Co Lumber. 

T J.  E Hatter. 

W L D.G. 

W D Furniture. 

W C Junk. 

W S.  G Steel  and  Iron. 

W S Clothing. 

W W Clothing. 

W W.  E.  &  Co Steam  Heaters. 

W F Brewery. 


[TO  EE  CONTINUED.] 


228 


THE   COMMERIAL   AGENCIES. 


BANGOE,  ME. 


&  s  —  

P.  M  

Boots,  etc. 
Broker. 

J  T 
J  I. 

M  &  Co.  . 
I  M        ' 

Clothing. 

K  I 
L         G 

A  P 

.    .Clothing 

M         & 

T  Co. 
Bros  &  D  

.  .  .Gro. 

N  C 
P          & 

C  H. 

.  .Lumber. 

P        -"V 

c  

«...Gro. 

P  A 

&S  
S.  B.  &  Co.  .  . 
H.  F  
E.  A  

.Com'n  and  Flour. 
Lumber. 
.  .  .Millinery,  etc. 
Gro. 

P  A 
P  B 
P  & 

S  O 

B.  W  

Prod.,  etc. 

T  & 

&C  
J.  A.  &C.  P.. 

.,00.  Lumber,  etc. 
Lumber. 

T  V 
W  1 

T.  &  Son Hdwaro. 

I.  S.  &  Co Medicines. 

N Lumber. 

G.  W Gro. 

&  U Shoes,  etc.. 

C.  A Gro.  and  Lumber. 

&  J Lumber. 

W.  T.  &  Co Lumber,  etc. 

A.  E.  &  Co Fruit,  etc. 

A.  W Machinery. 

H.  M Lumber. 

&L Gro.,  etc. 

O.  M Hotel. 

&  Co Lumber. 

W Navigation,  etc. 

D F'cy  Gds.,  etc. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


229 


.BOTGHAMTON    K  Y. 


S Speculator. 

C.  D Hdware. 

R Co. 

F Hotel. 

W.. Gro. 

E Bitters. 

L.  A Jeweller. 

J Wool. 

I.  C . .  .Drugs. 

N 0 &  Co Paper. 


.Grist  Mills. 

D E.  F Gro. 

L Bros.  &  Co Boots  and  Slices. 

L E.  L .Liquors. 

M N.  D Physician. 

O H.  B Builder,  etc. 

0 W Builder,  etc. 

O B Shoes  and  Gro. 

P S.  D.  &  Co Hdware. 

W C.  H Drugs. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


BOSTON,  MASS. 


A I Clothing. 

A &  Son Clothing. 

A A.  M.  &  Co Produce. 

A A.  H Furniture. 

A C.  F.  &  Co Shoes. 

A J.  S Shoes. 

A S &  Co Teas. 

A J Publisher. 

American  S S Co. 

A E.  H Steam  Gauges. 

A W.  W Cutlery. 

B A.  W Billiard  Tables. 

B F Salt. 

B G.  P Leather. 

B W &  Co Doors,  etc. 

B W.  H H'ware. 

B P Gro. 

B Mrs.  A.  M Gro. 

B- C.  L.  &  Co Com'n  Mers. 

B J.  R.  &  Co Com'n  Oils. 

B W.  J.  &  Co Shoes. 


B R Oils. 

B M Mason. 

B J Shoes. 

B &  B Rubber  Goods. 

B &  B Hats,  etc. 

B &  H Oils. 

B B Shoe  Fndgs. 

B W.  H.  &  Co Spices. 

B C.  D Contractor! 

B J.  F Lumber. 

B G &  Co Storage,  etc. 

B J.  E Japanner. 

B J Clothing. 

B L.  D.  &  Son Clothing. 

B &  T . . . Curriers. 

B T &  W: Furniture. 

B C &  Co Tailors'  Trm'gs. 

B J.  L : .  .Clothing. 

B &  B Cabinetmkrs. 

Boston  C S Co. 

Boston  D Co Fancy  Goods. 

Boston  F Co. 


230 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


Boston  M R Co. 

Boston  R M . 

.  &  Co Millinery. 

- Carpenters. 

r.  &  Co Shoes. 

B G &  Co Paints,  etc. 

B T.  C Liquors. 

B T.  B.  &  Co Trunks. 

B O.  L Billiard  Tables. 

B J.  B.  &  Co Com'n. 

B R.  &  Co Clothing. 

B C.  M Stoves. 

B H.  T Fancy  Goods. 

B T: Liquors. 

B B.  &  Sous Brokers. 

B J Shoes. 

B F.  &  C Small-wares. 

B &  B Machinery. 

B S &  M A . 

B &  S Leather. 

Q M.  S Shoe  Blacking. 

C J.  B Glassware. 

C F Liquors. 

C J Bookseller. 

C U.  B Tin  Cans. 

C P Gro. 

C N.  D Calf  Bts. 

C.  &  Co Stoves. 

C.  H.  &  Co Tobacco. 

&  Co Gro. 

I.  M Plate  Iron. 

0 J.  S.  &  Co Prod. 

C Bros.  &  Co Hosiery,  etc. 

C &  Sons Pianos. 

C W.  C Leather,  etc. 

C F &  Co. .  .Gas  Fixtures,  etc. 

C H.  A Apothecary. 

C W.  &Co Threads. 

C S.  W Cordials. 

C J.  N.  M.  &  Co D.  G. 

0 H.  F W Mills. 

C D D.  G. 

C J.  &  Co Liquors. 

C M.  &  Son Com'n  Car. 

C G.  T, Furniture. 

0 Bros.  &  Co Chairs. 

,  C J.  &  Co Liquors. 

C F. . . Boots  and  Shoes. 

C E.  G Tanner,  etc. 

•  &Co Shoes. 

•E.  W.&Co Leather. 

C H.  &  Co Glassware. 

C J.  K.  &  Co Clothing. 

C J Hosiery. 

;  C W Tailor. 

f  C— : —  H.  Sons Coal,  etc. 

C L &  M Boots  and 

Shoes. 

C M.  &Co Linseed  Oil. 

C C.  H.  &  Co Flour. 

C N...  ...Pianos. 


C B.  P.  &  Co Carpets. 

C G.  W.  &  Co Hats,  etc. 

C H.  C Gloves. 

C H &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

D S &  Co..' Gro. 

D C.  B.  &  Son Liquors. 

D D.  H.  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

D &  C . . ; Firebricks. 

D G.  B.  &  Co D.  G. 

D W.  W Com'n  Cigars. 

D J Mer. 

D &  Co Paper  and  Twine. 

E.  P.  &  Co. .  .Lamps  and  Fluid. 

M.  &  Co Liquors. 

C Tanner. 

P ...Publisher. 

D E.  L.  &  Co Cotton. 

D E.  C Mer. 

D J.  P.  P :  .Liquors. 

D &  W Boots  and  Shoes. 

D &  W Trunks,  etc. 

E W.  W Brushes. 

E A.  &  Co Cotton. 

F J.  P .Broker. 

F W.  A.  &  Co Shirts. 

F W.  D.  &  Co Boots. 

F &  R '. . .  .Liquors. 

F S &  Co Curriers. 

F O.  L Liquors. 

F &  Co Woollens. 

F S &  Co Navy  Shirts. 

F D.  F.  &  Co Liquors. 

F J.  P.  &  Co Firebricks,  etc. 

F M.  J Hotel. 

F 0.  &  Co Tallow,  etc. 

F R &  Co Smallwares. 

F Mrs.  J.  G Corsets,  etc. 

F I.  S Tailor. 

F &  H Pat.  Sponge  Bed- 
ding. 

F K.  &  Co Fish. 

F A.  &  Co Crockery,  etc. 

F J.  H Distiller. 

G S.  N Baker. 

G S.  N.  &  Co Butter. 

G A P Co. 

G F &  Co Fish. 

G &  G Chemical  Engs. 

G K &  Co Chandlers. 

G A Shipwright. 

G P &  Co Woollens. 

G B.  J Shoulder  Braces. 

G J.  &  Co Flour. 

G W Wool. 

G &  Bros Crockery,  etc. 

H &  Co Furniture,  etc. 

H F Furniture,  etc. 

H R.  W.  &  Co Men's  Furn'g. 

H C.  E.  &  Co Com'n  Wool. 

H F &  Co. . .  ...  Shoe?. 

H M Co. 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


231 


H         B         &  Co 

M          B          &Co 

.  .  .Millinery. 
.  .  .  .Lumber. 

H  Bros.  &  Co.  .  . 
H  F  &  Co.  . 
H       -  W    D 

.Boots  and  Shoes. 
Leather 

M  Bros.  C  &  Co. 
M          F   W  &  Co 

Wool 

M  R.  &Co  £ 

M  K  &  A  .  . 

..  M.  Needles. 
Paper. 

H  C  &  Co.. 
II  &B  
H  P.  B.  &  Son  .  . 

Chemicals. 
Women's  Collars. 
Lumber. 

M  P  £Co  
M-  -  -  •  R 

.  .  .Millinery. 

H  S.  L.&Co... 

H         S    S 

Machinery. 
Boots  etc 

M  J  &  Co  

M         L  B 

.  .  .Clothing. 
Coal  etc 

H  M.  C.  &  Co.  . 

Fancy  D.  G. 

M  W.  B  

.  .Liquors 

II          E  &  Co 

Watches 

N  O  &  G  Co 
N          J    J 

Flour 

H         J    A 

H  W  &  C  Co. 
H  Bros.  .  .    .Buttonhole  Machines. 

H  C    B     &   Co                               Oro-nna 

N  F  &Co  
N  T.  S.  &  Co  

.  .  .Hats,  etc. 
Shoes 

j  D     .  .  &  Co.. 

Bookbinders 

P-       •  Bro  &  Co 

Steel 

J  &  M  •-•— 

R  E.  Brokers 

P  C.  H.  &  Co  
p  S  H  L.            ..    .. 

.Iron  Works. 
Planing  Mill. 
.  .  .  Leather 

J  R  &  V  

J  T.  L  
J  W.  H.  &  Co.. 

...  Hats 

Apothecary. 
Pianos. 

p  G.  &Son  

P  J.  &Co  
P        •  J 

Junk. 

J          H  M   &  Co 

J          &  R 

K          J  G    Jr 

Gro 

R          S          &  Co 

K          E  J 

Boots  etc 

R      •    L  &  Co.      . 

Clothin"* 

K          N 

R          &  Co 

Metals 

K          &  D 

Leather 

R          G    H              ... 

v     -    &  J  

Boots   etc 

S  W.  A 

Real  Estate 

j  —  J 

.  .Boilermkr 

S  H  &  Co  
S  J.  P.  &  Co   . 

....  Lumber. 
.  .Provision 

j  J 

Gro 

L    &  H  .    . 

Carpets 

S  I,  &  G  P— 

—  Co. 
.Builder,  etc. 
"'urniture,  etc. 
.  .  Glassware. 
Leather.. 
Books 

,  W  &  Co. 
L  A.  S.  &  W.  G. 
,  A.  K  

.  .  .Men's  Furn'g. 
&  Co  Mers. 
.  .Lead  Pipe,  etc. 
..  .Stock  Brokers. 
Books 

S  M  Co  I 
S  G  Co  
T  B.  F.  &  Co  

T          B          &  Co 

,  G.  W.  &  Co.. 
L  D.  &  Go...  ... 
L  D  &Co... 
McK  H—  M- 
McP  A.  M.  &  Co 
M  &  E  
M          C   B    &  Bro 

Com'n. 

V  Mrs.  J  

.  .  .Millinery. 

W  Bros.  &  H  .  .  . 

Paints. 

W          E   H  &  Co 

.Tailors'  Trim'gs. 
Oils 

W          E 

Clothing 

W          &  Co 

Com'n  D  G 

M  J.  P.  &  Bro.. 
M  N  &  W— 
M          H    J    &  Co 

Glassware. 
—  Paints. 
Shoes 

W  P-  —  £Son  
W         C  E 

H'ware. 
Crockery 

W.      •  •  N                       I 

—  M  Co. 
Jewelry. 
Liquors. 
.  .Com'n  Mer. 

M    -  -  H  &  Co 

Shoes. 

W  N.  G.&Son  
W  P  &  Co  
Y  R.  II.  .. 

M  S  W.  .     . 

.   Carpenter 

M  C  Co. 

[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


232 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


BUFFALO,  K  Y. 


A J Saddler. 

A &  B Furniture. 

A &  C Fertilizing. 

A F.  A D.  G.,  etc. 

A H Pharmacy. 

A &  W Carriages. 

B D.  E Contractor. 

B &  B Lumber. 

B N.  II Joiner. 

B P Marble. 

B D Locomotives. 

B F.  &  H GWtware. 

B &  Bro Hats,  etc. 

B &  H Shirts. 

B A.  A.  &  Co Com'n,  etc. 

B Bros Wkol.  Jewelry. 

B N Clothier. 

B J Lumber. 

B A.  Son  &  Co Hats,  Boots  and 

Shoes,  etc. 

B Bros Saloon. 

B &Co Saloon. 

B W.  C Hotel. 

B C.  S.  Bros Tobacco. 

B &  F Clothing. 

B M.  A Bricks. 

B M.  W Sch.  Furniture. 

C J Coal. 

C T Files. 

C W.  A Tin,  Copper,  etc. 

C J.  A.  &  Co G.  S. 

C J.  A.  &  Son Barrels. 

C S &  Co Sashes,  etc. 

C &  Van  A Iron  Works. 

C J Coal,  etc. 

C G 

&  A Furs,  Hats,  etc. 

J.  Jr f Real  Estate. 

B.  C Stock  Dealer. 

L.  L Cattle  Dealer. 

J.F Millinery. 

"  Maltsters. 

&  F Coal. 

Mach.  Gauges. 

C.  Y Boilers. 


D II Gro.  etc. 

D C Brewer. 

D H.  £C Planing  Mill. 

D &  Co Fish  Packers. 

D &  II Foundry,  etc. 

E C Shipping,  etc. 

E E.  W Contractor. 

E J Boots  and  Shoes. 

E &  W T Co. 

E A Confec. 

F W.  G 

F &  W Brewery. 

F S &  Co Lumber. 

F F Variety,  etc. 

F C.  H.  &  Co Distillers. 

G C.  W Maltster. 

G J Foundry. 

G F.  II Lumber. 

G P Bricks. 

G L Cabinetmkr,  etc. 

H D Brewer. 

H J.  L Brewer. 

H C.  J Capitalist. 

H F Lumber. 

H &  G Stoves,  etc. 

H A.  G Spices. 

H R.  R.  &  Co Frwdrs. 

H J.  M.  &  Co Spices,  etc. 

H &  Co Furniture. 

H F.  J Flour  and  Feed. 

H E.  &B Planing  Mill. 

K B Co. 

K S.  &  Co Clothing. 

K H.  W Hammers. 

K &  F Livery. 

L J.  G Gro. 

L J Flour,  Wood,  etc. 

L B Boots. 

L M Gro. 

L S : Tobacco. 

L C Contractor. 

McC &  J Sailmkrs. 

McL J.  B Coffees,  etc. 

M M.  T. Shoes,  etc. 

M J.  B Maltster. 


THE   SYSTEM  EXPOSED. 


23,°, 


M B &  Co .'.Seeds,  etc. 

M W.  T.  &  Co D.  G. 

M Bros Theatricals. 

M &  C Hog  Brokers. 

M N.  &  Co Boots. 

M Bros. . . , Tanners. 

M Bros Lqrs. 

N S.  W Leather. 

N M.  &  Co Fey.  Goods. 

O C.  A.  &  Co Pictures. 

O R &  Co Planing  Mill. 

O &  Co Paper,  etc. 

O J R.  B.  Agt. 

P &  G Bolts  and  Nuts. 

P J.  &  Co Rectifiers. 

P J.  H D.  G. 

P F P E Co. 

P S.  G Inspector. 

R A Drugs. 

R G.  W Hats,  etc. 

R C Drugs. 

S A Brewery,  etc. 

S &  Co Fruit,  Game,  etc. 

S J.  F.  &  Son Leather. 

S J Planing  Mill. 

S F Builder. 

S &  Co Meds,,  Perfumery,  etc. 


S 0.  E . . .  .Jewelry  and  Silverware. 

S A Gro. 

S H Gro. 

g &  H Lqrs. 

S Dr.  F.  G Oculist  and  Aurist. 

S J Broker,  etc. 

S F.  J Gro. 

S J.  E Shipping. 

Mrs.  M.  &  Sou Cabtmkrs. 

J.  N.  &Co Clothing. 

Bros Machinists. 

H Dining  Sal. 

G.H.  &Son Coal. 

J.  K Hotel. 

E.  D.  &H Hotel. 

U C Variety. 

U D D Co. 

V V J Lumber. 

V R &  H Variety. 

W A Gro.,  etc. 

W J Jeweller. 

W J.  D.  &  Co Posters. 

W F Butcher. 

W &  B Engravers,  etc. 

W &  T .Gro. 

W P Lounges,  etc. 

W &  G Cattle  Dealers. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


BURLINGTON,  IOWA. 


A &  Co Grocers. 

B T.  W.  &  Co Whol.  Boots. 

B A Brewer. 

B I Co. 

B C.  J Newspaper. 

B W Oil  Broker. 

B W.  &  Co Grain. 

B D.  B Match  Mnfr. 

C J.  M Coal,  etc. 

C W.  E  &  Co Shingles. 

D J.   S Real  Estate. 

E Mrs.  E.  M Millinery. 

F W Builder,  etc. 

G H Cigars. 

G G.  &Co Lqrs. 

G J.  &  Co Carr'g  Fcty. 


N.  P Painter. 

&Co D.  G. 

G C Hotel. 

G H.  &  Co Bookbinders. 

G W F W . 

H M Candy  Mnfr. 

H &  S D.  G. 

I T Co. 

J W Stationery. 

K A Clothing,  etc. 

K G .Stoves. 

L P Lqrs. 

M Bros Gro. 

M &  Sons Builders. 

M I W Fndry. 

M D. ..  Gro. 


234 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


O J Coin'n. 

O J Boots  and  Shoes. 

P F Newspaper. 

P J.  H Mnfr.  Bed  Springs. 

P I Undertaker. 

R S.  J Gro. 


S J. . .'. Furniture. 

S C Nursery. 

S &  Son School  Furniture. 

T H Co Printers,  etc. 

T J Lqrs. 

T L...  ...Gro. 


H Brackets.      W J.  C Mnfr.  Bed  Springs. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


CAMDEN  K  J. 


P Tailor. 

Mrs.  J Dry  Goods. 

&  P E Co. 

&  M Webbing. 

L Tobacco. 

W.  H Varieties. 

S P M Co. 

H.  H Tobacco,  etc. 

J.  M.  J Upholsterer. 

S.  B.  &  Co Lumber. 

C.  B. . .  . .  .Bottler. 


H J Wines,  etc. 

H R.  N Window  Shades. 

J T Boots  and  Shoes. 

K E Hotel. 

K P F Co. 

L E.  H Drugs. 

P E.  L Notions  and  Books. 

P H Gro. 

R J.  D Hides. 

S J.  W.  &  Sons ...Iron. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


CHARLESTON,  S.  O. 


D Gro.  and  Feed. 

J D.  G. 

Gro. 

P D.  G.,  Gro.,  etc. 

J.H.  &Co D.G. 

•  Mrs.  A Gro. 

G Gro. 

•  &  G . . .  .Auction  and  Com'n. 

E,  H Gro,  etc. 

T.  T.  &  Co Turpentine. 


H.  R.  &  Co Com'n. 

C Whol.  Liq.  and  Com'n. 

C J Com'n  Cotton. 

P.  M Drugs. 

T.  H Factor. 

M.  H.  &Co Drugs. 

&  D Com'n. 

D.  S  Boots  and  Shoes. 

&  J Livery  and  Sale 

Stables. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


235 


D L Whol.  Liquors. 

E J.  M.  &  Bro. .  .Foundry  and  Ma- 
chinists. 

E J.  A.  &  Co. . .  .Auction,  Shipping 

and  Com'n. 

F X Restaurant  and  Billiard 

Saloon. 

F B . .  Shoes,  Trunks  and  Clothing. 

F J.  D Ins.  Agent  and  Com'n. 

F J.  M Com'n  and  Iron. 

(1 D.  &  Son Boots  and  Shoes. 

(i H.  E Wood,  etc. 

H J Liquors. 

II W.  S.  &  Son Stocks,  Bonds, 

and  Ins.  Agents. 

II G D.  G.  and  Clothing. 

I M , Broker. 

J D.  &  Son Com'n. 

J &  B Hats. 

—  W.  A .Cotton  Factor. 

—  F.,  Jr Gro. 

—  &  B .  ....  .Whol.  Fruit,  etc. 

—  E.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

—  &  S Gen'l  Com'n. 

—  W.  M.  &  Son Com'n  Cotton. 

—  E.  J D.  G. 

—  P.  P Com'n. 

McL A. . .  .Machinist  and  B'smith. 

M &M Gro. 

N T.  S Boots  and  Shoes. 


P E Printer  and  Stat'r. 

P H.  A Com'n. 

P J.  R Factor  and  Com'n. 

Q P.  &  Co Steam  Saw  Mill. 

Q M.  J Mnfr.  Cigars. 

B H &  Co Whol.  Gro.  and 

Com'n. 

R J.  R.  &  Co ....  Laces,  Embroide- 
ries, etc. 

R &  D . .  .Factors  and  Com'n. 

R W.  P.  &  Co. Builders'  Materials. 

S J.  II.  L Gro. 

g c.  W Coal. 

S W.  W Com'n  and  Shipping. 

S T.  G Cotton  Broker. 

S J.  H Lumber. 

S &  S Lumber,  etc. 

S H.  C D.  G. 

S A.  O Ship  Chandler. 

S Bros.  &  Co'. Com'n. 

T &  L Ship  Chandlers. 

T W.  J Upholsterer. 

T &  B Mnfr.  Soap. 

V S F Fancy  Goods. 

W H &  Co Com'n. 

W &  Von  K Com'n. 

W &  R . ....  .Soap  and  Candle 

Factory. 

Z Mrs.  M.  J Millinery. 


[TO  EK  CONTINUED.] 


CHICAGO,  ILL. 


A E '.Notions. 

A &  E Live  Stk. 

A B &  L P Co. 

A H.  &  Sons Bricks. 

A O.  &  Co Stationery  and  Pub- 
lishers. 

A S.  L Clothing. 

A C Furniture. 

A M &  Co Carpets,  etc. 

A &  B Builders. 

A P.  M.  &  Co.  ...Artists'  Gds.,  etc. 

A S &  Co Whol.  Hats  and 

Straw  Goods. 

A J.  H Wagons. 

A B.  L.  Co. . . .  . .  .Lumber. 


A &  Co Whol.  Paints. 

A J.  G Whol.  Jeweller. 

A &  B Iron  Works. 

B E Gasfitter. 

J.  C.  W -. .  .Masonic  Goods. 

&  Bro Wood  and  Coal. 

D.G. 

M.  C.  &  Co Loan  Bkrs.,  etc. 

Bros Stoves,  etc. 

D Showcases. 

&  J Stoves,  etc. 

J.  S.  &  Co Hats,  etc. 

Bros.  &  S Type  F'ndry. 

C &  Co Carriage  Goods. 


THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


B &  P Flour  and  Feed. 

13 A Lumber. 

B &  T Mercli.  Tailors. 

B R.  J Carriages. 

B F Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

B G.  T.  &  Co Com'n. 

B L.  A.  &  Co H'dware. 

B A.  H Sashes  and  Doors. 

B R.  K.  &  Co Lumber  Bkrs. 

B &  B Whol.  Cloths. 

B-^-  A.  M Gaslight  and  Coke. 

B F Brewer. 

B W Leather. 

B J.  G Lime. 

G.  W Carriages. 

Bros R.  E.  Owners. 

H • Cisterns,  etc. 

E.  E Whol.  Fish. 

H Drugs. 

H.  W , Real  Estate. 

B &H D.  G. 

&  N Confec. 

E.  &  Co Woollen  Mnfrs. 

Supplies  and  Dye-Stuffs. 

D.  &  Son Harness. 

&  M Lumber. 

C. Contractor. 

J.  &  Co Guns,  etc. 

C W H'dware. 

C Bros Real  Estate. 

C A.  J.  &  Co Bricks. 

C &  R Com'n. 

C L.  R Loan  Bkr. 

C F W 

&N R 'Co. 

R C Co. 

Co. 

Co. 

C S.,  Jr Clothing. 

C S.  D.,  Jr.,  &Co Engravers. 

C A.  B.  &  Co Carriages. 

C L &  Co Real  Estate. 

C Real  Estate. 

E.  A.  &  CM Printers. 

C.  &G.  &  Co...  .Machinery,  etc. 

N Pig  Lead. 

P H &  Co.  ..Stationers. 

C &  Co Lumber. 

C &  H Bankers. 

D J.H.&CO.... D.  G. 

D W.  M , Real  Estate. 

D J.  W.  &  Co Teas,  etc. 

D L &  Co Com'n. 

E E.  E Guns,  etc. 

E H &  Co Lumber. 

E P Boots  and  Shoes. 

E C.  L.  &  Co Com'n. 

E &  H Liquors. 

F F &  Co Millers. 


F J.  V.  &Co D.  (I. 

F C.  C Lumber. 

F G Banker. 

F &  II Contractors,  etc. 

F S.  &  Co Clothincr. 

G I Co. 

G &  P M Co.  .Sashes,  etc. 

G C.  &  Co D.  G. 

G &  S Tobacco. 

H &  P Brewery,  etc. 

H J.  T Advertising. 

H &  R Card  Stand. 

H W.  E R.  E.  Operator. 

H A.  L.  &  Bro Furniture. 

H D &  Co.  .D.  G.  and  Notions. 

H Bros Whol.  Liquors. 

H J.  F.  &  Co Bedding,  etc. 

H J Boots  and  Shoes. 

H P Gro. 

H £  L Co Tannery. 

H J &  F Paper-hang- 
ings, Bedding. 

H J.  C Crockery,  etc. 

H R &  D .  .Mnfrs.  Sashes, 

Doors,  etc. 

K G Picture  Frames. 

K C.  P.  &  Co Clothing. 

K Bros Lumber. 

K A.  E.  &  Co Com'n  Grain. 

K &  S Planing  Mill. 

K H.  W.  &  Co .  Whol.  Clothing,  etc. 

K A.  J Brick  Machines. 

K Bros Whol.  Gro. 

L M &  Co Grain,  etc. 

L H.  N.  F Rural. 

L J.  &  Co Cab't  H'dware,  etc. 

L P Whol.  Tobacco. 

L H Loan  Bkr. 

M A.  B.  &  Co Pig-iron,  etc. 

M J Boots  and  Shoes. 

M W &  Co Elevator. 

N P M &  L Co. 

N C R M Co. 

P P Capitalist  and  Hotel. 

P &  Co Bakery. 

p A Banker. 

P &  C Com'n  Merchants. 

R W Grain,  Flour,  etc. 

R &  Bro Woollen  Rags. 

R S &  W D.  G. 

R C.  R Bricks. 

R S  J.  ..Baskets  and  Rope  Mould- 
ing. 

g G &  Co Mnfrs.  Furn'g. 

S &  P Pat.  Meds. 

g M.  &  Co. Mnfrs.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

S F.  B Real  Estate. 

.  S L.  &  Co Bankers. 

S S.  P.  &  Co.  Whol.  Fey.  Gro..  etc. 

S A.  &  Son Bankers. 


THE    SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


237 


S H.  0 Real  Estate. 

S F.  &  Co Tin  Plate,  Ja- 
panned Goods,  etc. 

T Mrs.  K Saloon. 

T Bros Filter  Wells,  etc. 

T W.  &  Co Wood  and  Coal. 

T Bros.  &  W .Dried Fruits, etc. 

T &  S . . ,  . .  .Hotel. 


N &  Co Elevators. 

-S.  J Real  Estate. 

-  J.  &  Bro Planing  Mill. 

-  Y Co Yeast. 

-  D.  &  Co.  . .  Whol.  and  Ret.  Mil- 

linery. 
-T Real  Estate. 

-  T.  &  Co Artificial  Stone. 


[TO   BE   CONTINUED.] 


CINCINNATI,  O. 


A C.  M Boots  and  Shoes. 

A S Seeds,  etc. 

A N U 

A S.  &  Co.  .Watches,  Jewelry,  etc. 

A M.  T.  &  Co Com'n  D.  G. 

A J.  C Distiller  and  Essence  of 

Coffee. 

H.  F D.  G. 

J.  S.  &  Co. Hats,  Caps  and  Furs. 

D.  B.  &  Co Stoves  and  House 

Furn'g  Goods. 

II Tinner,  Roofing,  etc. 

—  W.  &  Co Ladies'  and  Gents' 

Furn'g  Goods. 
&  Co. ... Bankers. 

E.  &  Co Chemical  Works. 

B F Furniture. 

F.  W.  &  Son Pianos. 

B H.N.  &Co...  ..Chairs. 


&  L Whol.  D.  G. 

H.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

&  Son Liquors. 

J.  Sons Cordage. 

II Saddler. 

B S.  B Pork. 

15 L  Notions. 

B P Wines,  etc. 

B II.  H Whol.  Wall-paper. 

B F Mnfr.  Plush  and  Fringes. 

B J.  H.  &  Co Gro. 

B P.  C House  Furn'g  Goods. 

B A.  G.  &  Co Bankers. 

—  D Flour  Mill. 

B &  B .  .  .Cont'rs  and  Builders. 

C J Com'n  Boots  and  Shoes. 

C L Smokers'  Materials. 

C R.  W Distillery. 


L &  Co. .  .Pork  Packers  and 

Com'n. 

Bros.  &  M Importing 

Agents  Lace  Goods. 

W.  B.  &  Co Stationery,  etc. 

R.  W.  &  Co Publishers. 

T Wines. 

D.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Shoes. 

C B.  &  Son Gro. 

C J.  G Boots  and  Shoes. 

C F A 

C F.  &  Bro Queensware. 

C J.  S.  &  Co. .  .Horticulturists,  etc. 

C E &  Co Mnfrs.  Shoes. 

C R.  &  Co Lumber. 

C F.  A Drugs. 

D J.  A.  &  Co Oysters,  Fish,  etc. 

D W.  &  Co Spice  Mill. 

D &  X Whol.  and  Ret. 

Music,  etc. 

D R.  M Gro.  and  Tobacco. 

D G.  T Whol.  Jewelry,  etc. 

D R Books,  etc. 

D D.  H Ranges,  etc. 

D J.  T.  &  Co Coal. 

D W Gro. 

E E.  C Paint. 

E &  M Paperhan<r'ings. 

F O.  B.  &Co Pork. 

F R.  &  Co Prod,  and  Com'n. 

F A Drugs. 


238 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGEXCIE?. 


F A.  G.  W.  &  Co Tob.  and  Cig. 

F J.  W.  &  Co Com'n. 

F R.  H.  &  Co Com'n  and  Coal 

Elevator. 

F D Cracker  Bakery. 

F E.  J.  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

F J.  F.  &  Co.  .Sheepskin  Tanners. 

F W.  H.  &  Bro Sheepskin 

Tanners. 

F J Mnfr.  Paper  Collars. 

F B.  &  W Clothing. 

F I.  C Saw  Mill  and  Lumber. 

G J Fancy  Goods  and  School 

Books. 

G J Coal. 

G J.  &  W Hotel. 

G J.  H.  &  Co Pork  Packers  and 

Com'n. 

G D Com'n  Mer. 

G H &  Co Com'n  Mers.,  etc. 

G H Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

G &  W Clothing. 

G &  Co Wines  and  Liq. 

G J Gro.,  Feed,  etc. 

G C.  C Com'n  Lumber. 

G M Cheap  Notions. 

G P Fancy  Goods. 

G W.  &  Co Belting  and  Mnfrs. 

Brushes. 

G M Iron  Works. 

G M.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Hardware, 

etc. 

G G.  H.  &  F Undertakers  and 

Livery  Stable. 

G H.  &  Co Com'n  Mers. 

H E.  R. Coal. 

H A Boots  and  Shoes. 

H J D.  G.,  Notions,  etc. 

H H.  H Rectifier. 

H A Clothing. 

H S.  B.  &  Co Prod,  and  Com'n. 

H H.  F.  &  Co Pork  and  Beef 

Packers. 

H J.  A Roofing  and  Paving. 

H M Looking  Glasses  and 

Frames. 

H S.  W.  &  Bro Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

H B .Woollen  Rajrs. 

H Bros Wliol.  Liquors. 

H &  M Furniture. 

H A Mnfr.  Window  Blinds. 

H G Gen'l  Com'n. 

H H.  &  F Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

H A Pictures  and  Frames. 

H E Books,  etc. 

H G.  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

H F.  F Carriages. 

I A.,  Jr Hides,  etc. 

j &  A Mnfrs.  Bags  and 

Sacks. 
J B &  Co Prov.  Brokers. 


J N.  S Broker. 

K &  0 C Co. 

K S.  &  Sons Cotton  Brokers. 

K S.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

K A.  &  Co Distillers. 

K Bros Books  and  Stafv. 

K Mrs.  M Hotd . 

K J.  F Coal  Agent. 

K E.  &  Co  Com'n. 

K T.  R.  &  Co Seeds  and 

Ag'l  Impltc. 

K G.  F.,  Jr Gro. 

K T.  F.  &  Co.  .Step  Ladders,  etc. 

K D.  C.  &  Co Tar  and  Roofing 

Materials. 

E.  &Son G.  S. 

F.  G Mnfr.  Silk  Hats. 

G Distiller. 

S &  Co Stock  Brokers. 

&  N Machinery. 

A.  &  Co Hops. 

L G.  N Real  Estate. 

L R Gent's  Furn'g  Goods. 

L S Trunk  Paper  and  Flags. 

McC R Hides,  Leather,  etc. 

McF G.  &  H Notions,  etc. 

McG J.  J Hotel. 

McG W.  W Jewelry. 

Mel M Gasfitter. 

M J.  H Boots  and  Shoes. 

M T.  T. . .  .0 C H Co. 

M &  Bros D.  G.  and  Carpets. 

M A.  W Whol.  Cigars,  etc. 

M W Hats  and  Cape. 

M S Boots  and  Shoes. 

M &  Co Clothing. 

M M &  Co Whol.  D.  G. 

M W.  D Lumber. 

M H Mnf.  Sjrups  and  Soda 

Water. 

M E Map  and  Book  Pub'r. 

M J.  F Builder. 

M A.  B.  &  Co Whol.  and  Ret. 

Drugs. 

M V &  Co Mnfrs.  Lead 

Pipe. 

M W.  &  J.  C Jewellers. 

M &  D Whol.  Gro. 

M J.  B Machinery. 

M J.  M.  &  Co Whol.  Paints. 

M E.  E Com'n. 

M H.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

M M Leather. 

M H '. . .  Furniture. 

M J.  H.  &  Co Printers  and 

Stat'rs. 

M A Stoves,  Tin,  etc. 

M C.  B Pub'r. 

M T.  J Fancy  Goods. 

M &  Son Whol.  and  Ret. 

Clothir 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


239 


N  -  H.  G.  &  Co  .........  Publishing.- 

X  -  E  -  S  -  M  -  Co. 

N  -  C.  A.  &  Co  .......  Wkol.  Drugs. 

N  -  H  .......................  Pork. 

N  -  &  H  -  .....  Pork  Packers  and 

Com'n. 
O  -  F.  J  ......................  Hotel. 

O  -  J  .  &  Son  ..............  Liquors. 


O 


G.  P.  &  Co 


W.  &  Co 
Bros.  &  Co 


Mnfrs.  Sealing 
Wax. 
Jewelry. 
Transfer  Orna- 
ments. 
J.  II  ....................  Pub'r. 

L.  &  Co     ____  Flour  and  Com'n. 

Mrs.  M.  M  ............  Notions. 

M  -  Co  ...........  Furniture. 

M  ......................  Hotel. 

&  S  -  ........  R.  R.  Supplies. 

W.  &  Co  .........  Brass  Works. 


R 


O 
P 

P 

P 
P 
P 

P 
P 
P 
Q  -  T.  G.  &  Co  ......  Tin  and  Slate 

Roofing. 
Wbol.  Liquors. 
Mnfr.  Cigars. 
.  Wbol.  Fancy  Gro. 
Hats  and  Caps. 
R  -  F.  J.  &  Bros  .....  Cliair  Factory. 

R  -  J.  G  ...............  Mer.  Tailor. 

R  -  &  P  -  ..........  T  -  C  -  . 

R  -  B.  H  .........  Com'n,  Tailor  and 

D.  G. 

R  -  W  -  Co. 
R  -  G.  I  ........  Lime,  Cement,  etc. 

S  -  L.  H.  &  Co  .....  Salt,  Grain,  etc. 

S  -  J.  F  ...................  Printer. 

S  -  W.  H.  &  Co  ........  Whol.  and 

Ret.  Hats  and  Caps. 
S  -  C  ......  Fancy  Goods  and  Paper- 

hangings. 
S  -  C  ..............  Whol.  Liquors. 

S  -  &  H  --  ........  Whol.  Tin  and 

Furn'g  Goods. 
S  -  F  -  &  Co  .....  Wbol.  Liquors. 

S  -  A.  &  Co  ..........  Maltsters'  and 

Brewers'  Supplies. 
S  -  &'  A  -  ..................  Gro. 

S  -  J.  T.  &  Co  .....  Hatters  and  Fur- 

riers. 
.  W.  &  Co  ........  Iron  Bridges. 

A  .............  Boots  and  Shoes. 

A.  L  ....................  Pub'r. 

L.  D  ..................  Printer. 

F.  &  Co  ...........  Com'n  Mers. 

J.  &  J.  &  Co  ........  Whol.  D.  G. 

V  ......  Whol.  Boots  and  Shoes. 


S J.  A D.  G. 

S L.  N.  &  Co Whol.  Candies. 

S W.  B.  &  Co Lottery. 

S &  Co Com'n. 

S E.  W.  &  Co. . . ! .  .Pub'rs  Books. 

S J.  &  Co Jewelry. 

S C D.  G. 

S &  N Saw  Mill  and  Lum- 
ber. 

S W.  II Carpenter  and  Builder. 

S J Fertilizers. 

'.  &  Bro Whol.  Liquors. 

"    "  ~iro Whol.  Clo.,  etc. 

S T Pork  and  Beef  Packer. 

S G Liquors. 

T H.  J Mnfr.  Lace  Collars. 

T Bros Mnfrs.  Shoes. 

T J.  L.  &  Sons. .  .Wool  and  Com'n. 

T &  A Mnfrs.  Plug 

and  Twist  Tobacco. 

T W.  II.  &  Co. .  .Whol.  Millinery, 

etc. 

T J Whol.  Hats  and  Caps. 

T E.  R.  W Whol.  Leaf  Tob. 

T J Leather  Belting,  etc. 

T &  V Awnings,  Tents,  etc. 

T M ; . .  .Mnfr.  Caps. 

T J.  M.  &  Co R.  E.  Brokers. 

T L &  Co D.  G. 

U S M A Co. 

W F Cutlery  and  Opticians' 

Goods. 

W S D.G. 

W I Co. 

W C.  S.  &  Co D.  G. 

W A Mnfr.  Cigars. 

W G Boots  and  Shoes. 

W &  J ' Brewers. 

W H Lumber. 

W H.  L.  &  Son Furniture. 

W &  W Leaf  Tobacco. 

W &  C P Co. 

W—  E Furniture. 

W F.  Jr.  &  Co Bankers. 

W M Whol.  Clothing. 

W £ Hides,  etc. 

W N.  &  Co .' . .  .Hides,  etc. 

W W.  H Fancy  Goods. 

W &  Co Printers  and  Binders. 

W C Sealing  Wax,  etc. 

W H &  Co. .  .Com'n  D.  G.  and 

Cotton  Buyers. 
Y T.  W Com'n  Iron  Pipe. 


[TO    BE    CONTINUED.] 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


CLEVELAND    O. 


A L Co. 

A N D.  G. 

A N Boots  and  Shoes. 

A M Co. 

A H &  Co.  .Coal,  Pig  Iron,  etc. 

A &  D Drugs. 

A P Co. 

15 W &  Co Agents. 

B &  C ,\Vhol.  Confec. 

B C.  S Coal. 

B M Brewer. 

B I.  L Whol.  Fruits  and  Ret. 

Gro. 

B Mrs.  M.  C.  ..Books  and  Notions. 

1? G.  C.  &  Co Pork  Packers. 

B &  Co Woollen  Mill. 

B C.  E.  &  Co ...  .Clothing  and 

Furn'g  Goods. 

B M.  &  Co Cabinetmkrs. 

B P.  W Printer  and  Publisher. 

B W.  E Mnfr.  Patent  Sporting 

Boats  and  Step-Ladders. 

B M &  B Foundry. 

B F.  L.  &  Co Fruits. 

]3 J.  M Fancy  Goods. 

B A Gro.  and  Saloon. 

B C Co. 

B W.  &  Co Brooms. 

B H &  Co Hides,  Pelts,  etc. 

B Bros Booksellers,  etc. 

B M.  &  Co Whol.  and  Eetail 

Jewellers,  etc. 

C &  R .Whol.  Gro.  and  Com'n. 

C Bros. .  .Plumbers  and  Gasfitters. 

C J.  H Whol.  Millinery  and 

Straw  Goods. 

0 C.  B. Prod,  and*  Com'n. 

C G &  C Co. 

C P Co. 

C C Hotel. 

C A.  &  Co Who!,  and  Retail 

Booksellers  and  Stationers. 

C E Clothing. 

C A.  W Mnfr.  Chewing  Gum. 

C O Co. 

C &  B .Lamp  Fixtures.  Oils,  etc. 

C J Jeweller. 

O W.  V.  .Whol.  Liq.  and  Vinegar. 

C L.  &  Sons Whol.  Coal. 


S &Co Coal. 

O Jeweller. 

H.  A.  &  Co.1 Mnfrs.  Stave 

Jointing  Machines. 

A Crockery. 

J.  J Broker. 

P Boot  and  Shoe  Mkr. 

C.  H.  &  Co Stone  Quarry. 

X &  Co Ag'l  Implts. 

J.  &  Co Painting  and  Wall- 
paper. 
&  S Hardware. 

-  Bros Whol.  Liquors. 

C Co. 

-  A Printers  and  Pub'rs. 

G Saloon. 

M Co Street  Lamps. 

W.  F.  &  Co Whol.  Confec, 

&W Coal. 

J.  P Coal,  Gro.  and  Saloon. 

S.  H.  &  D.  P Whol.  Liquors. 

-  T Undertaker. 

-  J.  H.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Ground 

Coffees  and  Spices. 

-  A.  H.  &  Co Mnfg.  Druggists. 

.  I W Machinists. 

-  J .  II.  &  A.  S :  .Cracker  and 

Biscuit  Bakers. 

-  J Roofer. 

-  J.  &  Co D.  G.  and  Notions. 

-  M Fancy  Goods. 

-  J.  W.  &  Son Ship  Chandlers. 

-  F.  A.  &  Co Printers. 

-  E.  B.  &  Co Bankers. 

-  G.  E Marble  Quarries. 

-A Fancy  Goods. 

-  &  M Whol.  Furniture. 

-  H.  H.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

-  Bros Carriagemkrs. 

.  A.  S.  F Co. 

.  F I Co. 

.  J.  N Furniture. 

-  H Brewer. 

-  M.  L Burning  Fluid  and 

Lamps. 

-  II.  R Dentist. 

-  E Musical  Insts.  and  Fancy 

Goods. 

-  C.  S.  &  Co.  .Flavoring  Extracts. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


241 


K Mrs.  L.  F.  &  Son. 

K D.  J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Carriages. 

K H.  M.  &  Co Printers. 

K A.  F Boots  and  Shoes. 

K &  C M Co Axles. 

L S &  Co.  ...Mnfrs.  Nut  Bolts. 

L 1.  &  Co Brewers. 

L M Clothing. 

L E Furniture  and  Crockery. 

L W Boots  and  Shoes. 

L G.  H.,  Jr Gro.  and  Fruit. 

L I.  M Paper  Stock  and  Old 

Metals. 

L D.  W Wines  and  Liq. 

L R.  T.  &  Son Com'n  and  Prod. 

McC A.  C Safes  and  Com'n. 

McD F.  G.  &Co..  .Whole  Coal  and 

Iron  Ore. 

McN &  C M Co. .  ..Bridge 

and  Car  Builders. 

McN P Builder. 

McN E.  M Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

M J.  &  Co. . . .  Clothing  and  Furn'g. 

M C Co. 

M C &  Co Plumbing,  Gas- 
fitting  and  Furnaces. 

M &  A Clothing. 

M A.  M Marble. 

M F Mnfr.  Trusses. 

M &  S Hats  and  Caps. 

M A.'  H.'  &  Co.'.'.'.'. '. '.  '.Mnfrs.  Files'. 

N E Co. 

N M Clothing. 

0 L I Co. 

P F.  H Machinery  Oils,  etc. 

P &  L A I M Co. 

P T &  P Co. 

P W.  E Claim  Agent. 

P H.  O Saloon. 

P H.  O.  &  Co Billiard  Saloon. 

R J.  J Cooperage. 

R II &  Co. .  .Planing  and  Sash 

Factory. 


R A D.  G. 

R &  A .  .Iron  and  Gen'l  Com'n. 

R A Gro. 

R F I Co. 

R A.  &  G. . .  Whol.  and  Ret.  Fancy 

Goods  and  Notions. 

R— —  M.  &  Son Mnfrs.  Cigars  and 

Tobacco. 

R &  W Com'n  Lumber. 

R E.  W Boots  and  Shoes. 

R W.  R Boots  and  Shoes. 

R H.  G.  &  Co. .  .'.Boots  and  Shoes. 

R J.  P Pork  Packer. 

S J.  W Mirrors,  Frames,  etc. 

A.  M .' Drugs. 

Clothing. 

D.  G.  and  Notions. 

Mrs.  H.  D Milliner. 

S S.  H.  &  Co Lumber. 

S P Contractor. 

S H.  S Stages. 

S B Dentist. 

T &  T .  .Shingles,  Roofing,  etc. 

T S.  Sr Hides  and  Wool. 

T &  M Planing  Mill. 

U I W Co. 

V E.  H.,  Sons  &  Co Whol.  No- 
tions, Gro.,  etc. 

W J Clothing. 

W — »-A Gro. 

W T &  Co Planing  Mill. 

W A.  &  Son Gro. 

W J Stoves  and  Tin. 

W D.  C Stock  Broker. 

W J.  H Boots  and  Shoes. 

W J.  ..Watchmaker  and  Jeweller. 

W J Gro.  and  B'smith. 

W J.  A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Tob. 

W H.  &  Co Bankers. 

W W Plumber  and  Gasfitter. 

W S M Co. 

W G.  &  Co Paper. 

Y C. ..  Brewer. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


242 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


'  COLUMBUS,  O. 


A A Jewelry  and  Clothing. 

A D.  P Drugs. 

A S.  &  Co. Clothing. 

A &  F Clothing. 

A J Slate  Roofer. 

A E.  B.  &  Co Cornices,  Stoves, 

and  Tin. 

B L.  M.  &  Co Millinery. 

B J Mnfr.  Cigars. 

B E.  &  H.  F Carriagemkrs. 

B &  H . .  .Whol.  Gro.  and  Liq. 

C A Lumber. 

C C.  C Furniture. 

C H.  H Mnfr.  Iron  Fences. 

E.  B Coal  and  Coke. 

•J.  H Drugs. 

L.  D Gro. 

J.  A .  Stoves,  H'ware  and  Saloon. 

G.  H.  &Co Gro. 

F &  McC Coal. 

F &  P Feed. 

F Mrs.  H. ...... Clothing. 

G H.  C Gro. 

G J.  L Mnfr.  Ploughs,  etc. 

G J.  A Clothing. 

G I Clothing. 

H M Architect. 

H H Clothing. 

H J.  F.  &  Co...  .Pianos  and  Music. 

H C Co. 

H L Boots  and  Shoes. 

H C Gro.  and  Saloon. 

H F Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

H- —  C Mer.  Tailor. 

H G Boots  and  Shoes. 

H &  S Fancy  D.  G. ,  etc. 

J T.  A Gro.,  etc. 

J I Notions. 

J Mrs.  J.  E Picture  Frames. 

J J.  T Furniture. 

K L Clothing. 

,,K &Bro Tin  and  Stoves. 


K C.  T Gro.  and  Saloon. 

K H.  R Notions. 

K &  S Mnfrs.  Brooms. 

K A D.  G. 

E.  D.  W Books,  etc. 

&F Mill. 

A.  S Varieties. 

M Boots  and  Shoes. 

A.B Scales. 

J Drugs. 

M E.  J Mnfr.  Coffins. 

M C.  H Tob.  and  Cigars. 

N N Co Photo.  Mat'ls,  etc. 

N W.  P Pumps. 

O 0.  &  Co Stationery,  etc. 

R R Machine  Works. 

R D Hoopskirts. 

R J Paper  and  Paperhanger. 

S &  H .  .Agents  Fluting  Irons. 

S F W 

S P.  &  Co Brewers. 

S M.  &  Son Stat'y  and  Paper. 

S J.  &  Co Pianos  and  Music. 

S Mrs.  I Boots  and  Shoes. 

S C.  C. . .  .Com'n  Leather  and  Oils. 

S A Clothing. 

S R Prod. 

S J.  H R.  E.  Agent. 

T H &  C .  .Com'n  Agency. 

T T Curtain  Factory. 

U S.  L Hotel. 

V W Builder. 

W F Gro.  and  Saloon. 

W F Confec.  and  Saloon. 

W G.  J Boots  and  Shoes. 

W A.  A China,  Glass,  etc. 

W &  D .Leather  and  Findings. 

Z &  S G  ro. 

Z C.  H Mdse.  Broker. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


243 


DAVE1STPORT,  IOWA. 


A J Fruits,  etc. 

A 0.  &  Co Tobacco. 

B J.  W.  H : Physician. 

B C Tobacco,  etc. 

C J.  N Photo.  Materials. 

C J Boots  and  Shoes. 

C C . Gent's  Furn'g  Goods. 

C M.  B Furniture. 

C &  S Liquors. 

C J.  &  Son Gro. 

D Mrs.  R.  E Hair  Goods. 

E M Co. 

F P Gro. 

G H Boots  and  Shoes. 

G C .Boots  and  Shoes. 

G P Co. 

G M.  J Hats  and  Caps. 

G D Hotel. 

G W Coal. 

H J Boots  and  Shoes. 

H H Cora'n  Grain. 

H H Hotel. 

K &  L Brewers. 

K G.  A Grain. 

K N Tobacco. 

K F Harness. 


-  J.  A Sewing  Machines. 

J.  C ..  .Boots  and  Shoes. 

E Builder. 

-J.  H.  &  Co D.  G. 

-  &  Co. . . Com'n. 

-C.  W.  F Liquors. 

-  J.  M Flour  and  Feed. 

-T.  Y Ag'llmplts. 

Bros Florists. 

J.  C Saloon. 

E Ice. 

T Hats,  etc. 

J.  F Gro. 

&  W Tobacco. 

A. Confectionery. 

B &  Co. Tailors. 

E.  &  Bros. . Clothing. 

J Woollens. 

H.  M.  G Gro. 

J Upholsterer. 

-C.  &  Co. H'ware. 

-C.  S D.  G. 

-J.  W.... Gro. 

F Ag'llmplts. 

Boots  and  Shoes. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


DAYTOK,  O. 


A F Gro. 

A &  B Gro. 

A W Mnfr.  Fire  Kindler. 

A &  M Whol.  B.  and  S. 

A C Con  fee.  and  Newsdealer. 

A J Brickmkr. 

—  J.  L.  &  F.  M Carriages. 

B C.H Trader. 

B D.  E D  G 


B A Brewery. 

B C Mnfr.  Cigars  and  Saloon. 

B A.  &  J Saw  Mill. 

B H.  H Livery,  etc. 

B Mrs.  A.  M .Millinery. 

B D Saloon. 

—  C Gro.  and  Liq. 

B J Confec. 

B Mrs.  H.  E Fancy  Goods. 


244 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


B J Gro.  and  Liq. 

B M Builder. 

B &  K Mnfrs.  Oils. 

W.  G Mer.  Tailor. 

H Gro. 

H.  L.  &  Co. .  .Tin  and  Japanned 
Ware. 

J.  H.  &  Co Boilermkrs. 

S.  T Stoneyard. 

G Boots  and  Shoes. 

.  Livery. 

&  P Mer.  Tailors  and 

Gent's  Furn'g. 

J.  M.  &  M Fwdg  and  Com'n. 

C Bros Mnfrs.  Organs. 

C G.  P Books. 

J Wliol.  Liquors. 

.  .Stoves  and  Tin. 

).  &  Co Mnfrs.  and  Pub'rs. 

J Gro.  andR.  E. 

W.  L.  &  Son Leather  and 

Findings. 

Co. 

D J.  V.  &  Co D.  G. 

D B O L . 

D D Brickyard. 

D J.G Pub'r. 

D &  K Mnfrs.  Turbine  Water 

Wheels. 

D &  M Mnfrs.  Tools. 

E &  H Tailors. 

E C.M.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Extension 

Tables. 

E J.  G.. Boots  and  Shoes. 

F L D.  G. 

F R &  Co... Woollen  Factory. 

F E Hats. 

F J.  &  Bro Pub'ra  Music. 

F G.  H Drugs. 

F G.  H Saloon. 

F F Boots  and  Shoes. 

F &  D Builders  and  Car- 
penters. 

F J.  S.  &  Co Whol.  Drugs. 

G V Saloon,  etc. 

G &  R Livery. 

G H.  C.  &  Bro Whol.  Gro.  and 

Liq. 

G W.  M Confec.,  etc. 

G J Wagonmkr. 

G T Carpenter. 

G Bros Whol.  Millinery 

G W.  G Gro. 

G W.  A Agent. 

Q__  A.  W Children's  Carriages 

and  Baskets. 
,  .B.  &  S.,  Hats  and  Caps. 


I. 


J.  R Saddles  and  Harness. 


TI- 
H- 
H- 
H W Speculator. 


G.  P. 


.Gro. 


H W Tailor. 

H A.  H Drugs,  etc. 

H Miss  L Milliner. 

H &  H .  .Mnfrs.  Iron  Railings. 

H &  H M Co. 

H H Gro. 

H W.  H Clothing,  etc. 

H B.   E. Notions. 

H Bros Lumber. 

H R.  S.  &  Co Lumber. 

H Z.  T Dr-ags. 

H J Trunks,  etc. 

H W.  S Auction,  Com'n  and 

D.  G. 

H W ; D.  G. 

J J.  T Hotel. 

J L.  B.  &  Son Leather  and 

Findings. 

J H.  H. .  .Whol.  and  Ret.  Liquors. 

K K.  S Mer.  Tailor. 

K W.  &  Co Ropemkrs. 

K J Boots  and  Shoes. 

L J Furniture. 

L J.  T Hotel. 

L C.  P Gro.,  etc. 

L W Saddles,  etc. 

L B Clothing. 

L H Tree  Agent. 

L A Stoves  and  Tin. 

L Bros Whol.  Paints,  Oils,  etc. 

L J.  O Boots  and  Shoes. 

L G.  B.  &  Co...Mnfrs.  Table  Slides. 

McC &  W Gro. 

McD &  F Marbleworkers. 

McH A. . .  .Carpenter  and  Builder. 

McS D.  E.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Grain 

Drills. 

M &  L Whol.  Liquors. 

M J.  J..Mnfr.  Bagging,  Miller,  etc. 

M B Mnfr.  Brushes. 

M G Gro.  and  Saloon. 

M S Gro. 

M W Gro.  and  Liq. 

M W Broker. 

M N Money  Lender. 

M H.  &  Bro Mnfrs.  Rakes. 

N G Pub'r. 

N E Gro.,  etc. 

N A Jeweller. 

O'N &  D . . .  .Com'n  Mers.  and 

Leaf  Tobacco. 

0 M Ret.  Furniture. 

O P B.  and  S.,  H.  &  C. 

P P Machine  Agent. 

P H.  F Flour  and  Feed. 

P G.  G.  &  Co D.  G. 

R &  Sons Hides  and  Furs. 

R p &  Co Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

R J. . .  .Whol.  and  Re,t.  Books,  etc. 

R &  D Photo.  Materials. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


245 


. . .  .Builder  and  Planing  Mill. 
Bakery  and  Saloon. 

Flour  Mill  and  Saloon. 

Hotel. 

Brewer. 

Brewer. 

D Drugs. 

. . .  .B.  and  S.,  Hats  and  Caps. 

W.  B Patent  Meds. 


T B.    C Mnfr.  Rakes. 

T I.  N Stoves,  etc. 

W B.  P D.  (i. 

W J.  B Nursery. 

W J.  H Marble. 

W A Gro.  and  Saloon. 

W S Gro. 

Z A Drugs. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


DENVEK,  COL. 


A S.  &  Son Clothing. 

A H.  E Com'n  Eggs,  etc. 

B J Butcher. 

B &  H Carriage  Painters. 

C M.  A Restaurant. 

C W.  J Carpenter,  etc. 

C W.  D.  &  Bro Stock  Dealers. 

C E Blksmth. 

C C.  S Gro. 

C A Jeweller. 

C F Builder. 

E Mrs.  B Millinery. 

F J Stock  Dealer. 

F J Clothing,  etc. 

F J.  H Drugs. 

F &  Bro Sporting  Gds. 

G Bros Gro. 

G P.  P Saw  Mills. 

G J Pawnbroker. 

H M Gro. 

H B Tailor. 

—  &  B .Clothing. 

H Bros Soap,  etc. 


-J.  H.  &Co Tailors. 

-  C.  A.  &  Co Stationery,  etc. 

-  &  A Cigars. 

-L.M Hotel. 

-A Paints,  etc. 

-  J.  M Hubs  and  Felloes. 

-J.W Hotel. 

-J.  B Stairbuilder. 

-  Mrs.  E Milliner. 

-  W.  H.  &  Co Transfer. 

-M.  L Guns. 

J.W Jeweller. 

P Stock  Dealer. 

C.  M . Liq.  and  Tobacco. 

J Confectioner,  etc. 

T.  H.  &  Co Flour  and  Com'n. 

E.   K Paper. 

Mrs Hair  Goods. 

-  Bros D.  G.,  Clothing,  etc. 

_  &  W Planing  Mill. 

-J.  H Publisher. 

-  W.  A. . .  . .  .Tobacco. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


246 


THE  COMMERCIAL   AGKNCIES. 


DETROIT,  MICH. 


A &G C'om'n. 

A S H'dware. 

A C Tobaccos. 

A E.  G Lumber. 

A &  M Lumber. 

B J.  B Contractor. 

B L Hotel. 

B A Boots  and  Shoes. 

B &  P Grates,  etc. 

B P.  P Confec. 

B &  G Books,  etc. 

B Bros Gro. 

B &  K Trunks. 

B H.  B Drugs. 

B P Brewer,  etc. 

B M Broker. 

B N Notions. 

C T.  &  Co Gro. 

C C.  &Sons D.  G. 

C J.  H Oysters. 

C Bros Boilers. 

C G.  C Shirts,  etc. 

C J  P Fish,  etc. 

C D Tailor. 

C J Bakery. 

C D.  T.  &  Co Lithograph. 

C W.  H.  &  Co Com'n. 

C W.  W Lumber. 

D J Brewer. 

D &N ' Brewery. 

D &  M R.R.  Co. 

D N W . 

E &  R Vinegar. 

E H.  D.  &  Co Chandlers,  etc. 

F W &  Co Drugs. 

F C &  Co Spices,  etc. 

F S &  L Co. 

F B &  Co Bnkrs. 

F &  Bros Furniture. 

F G.  H.  &  Co Agl.  Impts. 

F H.  A Drugs. 

F A...  ...Gro. 

F F Spice  Mills. 

G P  Ropemkr. 

G J Lqrs. 

G H.  A...  ...Coal. 


G S.  B Vessels. 

G C.  K D.  G. 

H R.  H Bricks. 

H &  S Notions. 

H A Clothing. 

H Bros.  &  Co Teas. 

H &  V Lumber. 

H J.  L.  &  Co Vessels,  etc. 

I I.  W Builder. 

J C.  B.  &  Co H'dware. 

J E.  Jr H'dware. 

J M.  &  Co Grain. 

K J.  L. Clothing. 

K P.  &  Co Brewers. 

K A.  &Co .D.  G. 

L H.  S Furniture. 

L J.  M , Clothing. 

L &  Sons Com'n. 

L &  S Millinery. 

M Mrs.  J Furniture. 

M F Gro. 

M P Auction. 

M C.  R Clothing. 

M R.  &  Son Brewers. 

M L &  Co Lumber. 

M R.  &  Co Shoes. 

M H.  &  P Saws. 

M P.  J Gro. 

M F &  E Lumber,  etc. 

M J.  &  Co Mchnry. 

M C R Co. 

M W.  &  R Gro.,  etc. 

M H Brewer. 

M F &  Co Gro. 

N C.  H.  &  Co Bkg  Powder 

N G.  &  Co Cigars,  etc. 

0 S M &  M Co. 

P &  C Lumber. 

P &  C Furniture. 

P &  B Clothing. 

P J Vessels  etc. 

P &  B Drugs. 

R D.  M Matches. 

R F Jewelry    etc. 

R M D.  G.,  etc. 

S J Tailor. 

S &  B Ship  Bkrs. 

S Bros Builders 

S T.  W.  &  Son Wire  Wks. 

S &  B Cigars. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


24T 


J.  D.,  Sr Pine  Lands. 

.  C Wood  Yards. 

C.  D H'dware. 

W.  H Prod. 

J.  W Woodenware. 

•L.  W.  &  Co Gro. 

.Silver  Platers,  etc. 
..VVhol.  Books,  etc. 

Ret.  Books,  etc. 

Gro.,  etc. 


T &  D Gro. 

T &R Gro. 

U J P Co. 

W J.  D.  &  Co Bill  Posters. 

W S.  W.  &Co Coal. 

W A.  B.  &  Co Lqrs. 

W F Co. 

W C.  M Theatricals. 

W C.  D.  &  Co Mldgs.,  etc. 

W W.  &  Co Decorators. 


[TO  BE  COKTINTJED.] 


DTJBTJQUE,  IOWA. 


M Brewer. 

•  ti.  \V.  &  Co Bkrs. 

M Baker. 

W &  Co D.  G.  and  Gro. 

&  W D.  G.,  etc. 

R Real  Estate. 

J.  L.  &  Co Foundry. 


D &  W Affts. 

F J Flour,  etc. 

G E.  A.  &  Co Jewelry. 

G A Lqrs. 

H A Brewer. 

H Mrs.  M.  A. . .  . .  .Hats. 


M A Grain. 

M G.  H.  &Co Whol.  D.  G. 

M J Gro. 

P P.  M Clothing. 

R Bros.  &  H Crockery. 

R W Contractor. 

R L.  A Liquors. 

R J.  M Lumber. 

R M.  S Agr'l  Implts. 

T &  S Brewers. 

W J.  &  W Lead. 

W C &  Co D.  G. 

W W.  W. . .  . .  .Hotel. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


ELMIRA,  E".  T. 


A P.  A Gro. 

A M.  II Speculator. 

A S.  T Capitalist. 

A S Jeweller. 

B &  D .  °.V. ".'.'.'.'.'.'. '.'.Fey  Gds! 

B W.  A Boots,  etc. 

jj ^j  Q Com*  11. 

B T.  &  Co Brewers,  etc. 


B J.  G H'dware. 

B Mrs.  E Boots,  etc. 

Co. 

J Carriages. 

F. G.  R.  &  Co .- Gro. 

F &  H Boots  &  Shoes. 

F D &  Co Notions. 

F Bros Buffalo  Robes,  etc. 

G J Nursery. 


248 


THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


H         A 

Prod. 

R  P  

Liquors,  etc. 

J         R 

S         &  S 

Gro. 

g  &  H  

Bankers. 

M         &  W 

Hotel 

Shoes 

T         &  P 

.  Foundry 

V         A 

Miller 

R  M.  K... 

.  .  .Liquors. 

[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


ERIE,  PA. 


.  J Beer  Garden. 

A Builder  and  R.  E.  Dealer. 

P.  A.  &  Co : Gro. 

J Boots  and  Shoes. 

E.  R Ins.  Agent. 

Hotel. 

C Boots  and  Shoes. 

Sons Gro. 

Boots  and  Shoes. 

M Capitalist. 

S.  E Hair  Goods. 

•  G D.  G. 

•  J Boots  and  Shoes. 

G.  &  Co  Gro. 

P Harness. 

G Carriage  Trimmer. 

J Coal  and  Wood. 

H Clothing. 

•  M Notions  and  Second-hand 

Goods. 

J.  &Co Gro. 

- 1 Co. 

J Saloon. 

•  R.  C Store. 

•  J.  K Church,  School,  and 

Hall  Furniture. 

•  &  M . .  .Phys'ns  and  Drugs. 

•  J Hotel. 

-&K . ..  ...Tailors. 


-  C.  N Gro.,  Builder  and  Con- 

tractor. 
-R.  0 Hotel. 

-  W Bleachery,  etc. 

H Builder. 

M.  H Hotel. 

-A Maltster. 

-  L.  &  G. . .  .Hats,  Gents'  Furn'g, 

etc. 
-F Hotel. 

-  T.  &  Co Hardware. 

-  T.  P Restaurant. 

-  W.  T Drugs. 

_&M Clothing. 

-  C.  H Flour,  etc. 

-  C.  F S M^ Agt, 

-H Gro. 

-  A.  .Sashes,  Blinds  end  Builder. 

.  &  c Junk. 

-S.  M Builder. 

-J.  B.  &Co Billiards. 

Bros D.  G. 

F Brewer. 

-  W Gro. 

J Clothing. 

A , Notions. 

E.  E Publisher,  etc. 

J.  B Jewelry. 

-  T &  N Coal. 

-  Mrs.  S.  A Millinery. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


249 


EYANSYILLE,  IKD. 


&  Co  

.Sewing  Machines        G  S       --    -- 

Auctioneer 

FA     

Hotel 

G         T  J 

Printer. 

J  

Boots   etc. 

H  &  G   - 

Liquors. 

C.  &  Co  

Furniture. 

H  G     

Gro. 

G.  I.  &  Co... 
H.  0.  &  Co.  . 
J.  B.  &  Co.  .  . 
H.  V.  &Bro. 

Ag'l  Impl'ts. 
Ag'l  Impl'ts. 

J  H  &  Co 
M          &  R 

D.   G. 

Hotel. 
Bookbinders 

Ag'l  Impl'ts. 
Whol.  Liq. 

M  &  F  .  .  . 
M          D 

D.  G.  and  Gro. 
Physician. 

A  &Co 

B 

Glassware 

M          J  &  Bro 

Sashes   etc 

II  &  Co 

Cloths 

N-    -    J 

Saloon. 

N  F  &  Co 

Liquors 

R-       F     . 

Gro. 

A    &  W 

Bakers 

S         J  G 

P.  &  Son... 
B  
M  C  
T 

.  .Soaps,  Oils,  etc. 
Jeweller. 

Boots,  etc. 

S  T.  C.  &  Co. 
S         C 

Commission. 

S          &  Son  a  

.  .Pork,  Liquors,  etc. 
Livery  Stable 

j 

S        -M 

Brewery 

J   C 

W          S 

Lumber. 

[TO    BE    CONTINUED.! 

FALL  RIYEK,  MASS. 


J.  W  
D.  W  

.Boots  and  Shoes. 
Furniture. 

H          S   &  Son 

Hotel 

H  P.  P  

D.  G.,  etc. 

J.  G.  &Co... 
H 

.Whol.  Fruits  and 
Gro. 
Tailor 

H         EM 

Bricks  etc 

H  &  W  . 
L         E             M 

Furniture, 
nfr.  Waterproofs,  etc. 
Clothing 

L   &  Sons 

Prints 

L  M.  &  Co  . 

L       •-  N  U 

Fish  Oil 

.Mnfr.  Blackin<»-   etc 

&  B 

Gro 

N        •  J   F 

.  .Roll  Coverers 

N  &D  — 
P  D 

-.  .                .Mills 

R          CVS. 

Cotton 

Sashfla    fitrr 

Drugs 

M  Miller  and  Bleacher. 
G                                             D   G 

R          T 

Gro. 

g               -jyj-  

.Cloths. 

M  &  Co. 
E 

Bakers 

T         E  

Gro. 

Gro    etc 

W         M 

Cloths. 

P... 

.Sewinsr  Machines. 

[TO    BE   CONTINUED.] 


250 


THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


GALYESTOIST,  TEXAS. 


A &  M , .  .Cotton  Factors. 

A &  Bro Hats,  Caps  and  Straw 

Goods. 

A C Billiards. 

B &  D Com'n. 

B S Jeweller. 

B Mrs.  M  Gro. 

B T Watchmkr. 

B E Watcbmkr. 

B II.  J Soap  Factory. 

B J.  &  Son Com'n. 

E R Restaurant, 

J.  W Pub'g. 

&  K Com'n  Mers. 

&  E Furniture. 

C D.  G.  and  Notions. 

A.  II R.  E.  Broker. 

H.  A.,  Bros.  &  Co. Iron  Foundry. 

&  B Com'n. 

O.H Pub'r. 

G.  H ...Saloon. 

&  B Soap  Factory. 

W.  A.  &  Co. .  .Hides  and  Wool. 

F C Teas. 

F C.  F Bookbinder. 

F F Tailor. 

G A ,  H &  I A 

G A.  C.  &  Co. .  .Cotton  Buyers  and 

Com'n. 

G C Saddler. 

G Mrs.  E Confec. 

G T Liquors. 

G T Jeweller. 

G T Cotton  Buyer. 

G T Hotel. 

H P.H Gro. 

H J.  H Publisher. 

H J Gro.  and  Grist  Mill. 

H T.  F Builder,  etc. 

H I Books. 

I J.  B Drugs. 

J Mrs.  H Dressmkr. 


K &  R Mer.  Tailors. 

K F.  W Qro. 

K &  B Contractors. 

K J.  N Mnfr.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

J-  J Harness. 

S Watchmaker. 

J Ale. 

A Mnfr.  Bitters. 

S D.  G.  and  Notions. 

&  S Whol.  Notions. 

M W.  W.  &  Co. .  .Cotton  Factors. 

M J.  L Whol.  Gro. 

M S Real  Estate. 

M Bros Clothing,  etc. 

M &  R Tailors. 

M J.  M.  &  Co.  ..Com'n  and  Cotton. 

M &  B . . .  .H'ware,  Stoves  and 

Tin. 

P B.  S Com'n  Lumber,  etc. 

P &  M Printers. 

P W.  D Tinner. 

P F Liquors. 

P A.  &  Co Hides. 

R Sons Imps.  Crockery,  etc. 

R H.  T Ship  Broker. 

R M Tailor. 

S S Florist. 

S J.  S.  &  Co.  .Shipping  and  Com'n. 

S C.  S Oils,  Lamps,  etc. 

S F Confec.  and  Soda  Water. 

S Mrs.  L Tob.  and  Cigars. 

S M.  K Hotel. 

S W.  S Ins.  Agent. 

T G &  Co Newspaper. 

T Mrs.  E Milliner. 

W J Cotton. 

W D D.  G. 

W N.  C Slater. 

W W Com'n. 

W A. .  .  .Com'n  and  Mdse.  Broker. 

W W...  ...Saloon. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED. 1 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


251 


GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICH. 


A &  K Brewery. 

A &  K Gro. 

13 S.  S Stages. 

B M.  T Lightning  Rods. 

B J.  W F'cy  Goods. 

C J Gro.,  etc. 

G J.  H Hotel. 

C W.  H.  &  Co Lime. 

C Bros Gro. 

C H Cigars,  etc. 

•  &  C Ag'l  Impl'ts. 

F.  &Sous Gro. 

Bros.  &  Co Printers. 

E.  G Jewelry. 

T L.  Rods,  etc. 

E J Wagons,  etc. 

F &  Co Lumber. 

F &  R Wagons. 

F D Lumber. 

F &  Co Glass. 

G H.  M.  &  Co Paints. 

G E.  L.  &  Co Brkrs. 

G P.  M.  &  Co H'dware. 

G J.  G Tools. 

G W.  S.  &  Co H'dware. 


-  Mrs.  E Books  and  Stat'ry. 

-E.  B.  &Co Beds. 

-  H.  M Paper,  etc. 

-  E.  W Ag'l  Impl'ts. 

-A.,  Bros.  &  Co Machinists. 

-  Bros Hats. 

-  R.  G Lumber. 

-  L.  A Boots. 

-  &  Co Planing  Mill. 

-  J.  W Machinery. 

-  E.,  Sons  &  Co Teas,  etc. 

-  E.  R Planing  Mill,  etc. 

-  W.  T Water  Power,  etc. 

-  Mrs.  T.  A News  Depot. 

-  W.  T.  &  Son Lumber. 

•I.  L Lumber. 

&  H Drugs,  etc. 

B.  C Hotel. 

&  A D.  G.,  etc. 

-  G; &  G Safes,  etc. 

-J.  L Saw  Mill. 

-  E.  W.  &  S.  A Furniture. 

-  &  Co Lumber. 

—  &  L Leather. 

-  J.  S Ag'l  Impl'ts. 


[TO  BK  CONTINUED.] 


HALIFAX    K  S. 


A A.  B Com'n. 

B J.  B Mnfr.  Soda  Water. 

B &  R Gro.  and  Com'n. 

J.  S Com'n. 

W Com'n. 

H.  P Drugs. 

Bros Express,  etc. 

T.  P Stationer,  etc. 

F.  D.  &  Co Com'n  and  Coal. 


Merchant. 

P Gro.  and  Liq. 

R Gro. 

T Gro. 

D A .Com'n. 

F F.  W Express. 

F J.  W Hotel. 

G P Liquors. 


B. 


Tailor. 


252 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


H S.  T Books. 

H G.  C.  &  Co Merchants. 

H D D.G. 

H J.  &  Son Gro. 

H D Livery  Stable. 

H L.  &Co ...D.G. 

H W Lumber. 

H J Gas  Fitter,  etc. 

K E.  &  Co Stationers. 

L D.  J Gro.  and  Com'n. 

M &  Co Furniture. 

M A Machinist,  etc. 


M D.  A Brass  Founder. 

M G.  E.  &  Co Drugs  and  Books. 

M J.  K Clothier. 

M P.  &  J Brewers. 

0 W.  D Contractor. 

O E Gro. 

O &  Co Com'n  Mers. 

P M Liquors. 

R- D Gro.  and  Liq. 

S W Butcher,  etc. 

W T Boots  and  Shoes. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


HAMILTON,  ONT. 


A A.  T Gro. 

A W Gro. 

B R.  M B<*>ks,  etc. 

B J.  A Drugs. 

B J.  N.  &  Co. .  .Wines  and  Spirits. 

B &  Co Vinegar. 

B N.  F Fwdg. 

B S &  M Iron. 

C H.  G.  &  Co Carriages. 

C T.  &  Co Founders,  etc. 

C J Shoes. 

D J.  H.  &  Co Com'n  Wool. 

F C.  J Hotel. 

F T D.  G. 

F R Lumber  Com'n. 

G W. . .  . .  .Boots  and  Shoes. 


G G Steel  Spring  Mnfr. 

H T Cabinetmkr. 

H W.  J D.G. 

K W Clothing. 

K J.  &  R Music  and  Sewing 

Machines. 

M J Lamps,  etc. 

M I Whip  Lashes. 

N T Speculator. 

R J.  W Physician. 

T J. Melodeons. 

W T.  C D.  G. 

W R Ice. 

W L- &  Co.  .Sewing  Machines. 

W S Boots  and  Shoes. 

W J.,  Sr Gro.,  etc. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE    SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


253 


HABTFOED,  CT. 


B B.  B Silversmi  t  h. 

B &  Co Dyestuffs. 

B H.  &  S Masons. 

B R.  F.  &  Co Iron,  etc. 

B J.  H Gro. 

B E Harness. 

B H.  M Jeweller. 

B H.  S   Confectioner. 

B A.  E Restaurant. 

B •  R.,  Sr Capitalist. 

B W Harness. 

B P Grov 

B I.  B.  P Co. 

B E.  W.' Fish. 

C -A Clothing. 

C J Clothing. 

C S &  W F M Co. 

D L Miller. 

1) &  R— — Carriagemkrs. 

D A.  B Clocks. 

D A.  &  Son Wool. 

F T S M- —  Co. 

F &  H Gro. 

G D Boots  and  Shoes. 

G H.  &Co D.  G. 

G D.  A *. Furniture. 

G H.  A.,  Est.  of Drugs. 

G &  F Soap  and  Candles. 

H H.  &  Bro Jewellers. 

H P Co. 

H S Co. 

H &F D.  G. 

H W.  K Flour  and  Feed. 

H N Leaf  Tobacco. 

H A.  J Baker. 

H W.  C Printer. 

K H.  P Gro. 

K &  F Wines,  etc. 

K R.  &  Son Carriagemkrs. 

K H.  F...  ...Gro. 


A/G.'.'.' 

M.  M.. 


-  F.  W .' Pens' 

L Hotel 

W.  H Electrotyper. 

B. . . . Carriages. 

Bros Builders. 

-T Tea. 

-  R   Banker. 

-  H.  &  Co Upholsterers. 

-  L.  B.  &  Co Sashes,  etc. 

-S.  M Marble. 

-C Silversmith. 

$ Co. 

M.  C Teas  and  Lqrs. 

R Lqr.  and  Gro. 

J Lqrs. 

T.  H Coin'n  Prod. 

Bros Meat. 

M Hotel. 

A.  G Tobacco. 

Oysters. 

P &  Co Milliners. 

.Boots  and  Shoes. 
). . .  .Ag'l  Impl'ts,  etc. 

-  J.  C.  &  Co Packing  Boxes. 

-  E.  &  Son Lime  and  Cement. 

-  &  D Cigars. 

-  P.  H.  B Tailor. 

C.  L Builder. 

O.  D R.  E.  Broker,  etc. 

&Co  Gro. 

F.  C.  &Co Whol.  Meats. 

D Builder. 

W.  B ...  Lumber. 

.  C &  Co Tripe,  etc. 

-  W Auctioneer. 

_  s M Co. 

-  E.  H.  &  W.  S Stevedores. 

-  D.  R Coal. 

-  C Paints,  Sashes,  etc. 

-  &  Co Boots,  and  Shoes. 

-  J.  K Drugs. 


[TO   BE  CONTINUED.] 


254: 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


HOUSTON,  TEXAS. 


-  N             .      ..  . 

Prov        F    —  C  J     . 

_  J   J         

Hotel 

«  F 

Boot  and  Shoe  Mkr 

-M.  A  
-  J  C,  

Tailor. 
Gro. 

H  A.  &  F— 
H  H.  &  Co 
I  &G  . 

L  &Bro.  .. 
M  W.H.. 
M  -  S 

—                 Whol    D   G 

.  .  .Whol.  and  Ret.  Gro. 
.  .Furniture  and  Uphol- 
sterers. 
D  G. 

-  J.  W.  &  Co.  .  . 
-  Mrs  F 

Cigars,  etc. 
G  S 

-E.  H  

Books,  etc. 

-  J.  A  

.  .  Machinery,  etc. 

Carriagemkr 

T  W 

.Bankin^ 

Gro 

-J.  W.  Can 

W          &Co 

iage  Trimmings. 
.Mill. 

M  S.  S  

Lumber  Dealer. 

R  Mrs.  M. 
S  J  . 

J   R 

F'cy.  Goods. 

Gro 

-&Co.. 

Whol.  Liquors. 

S  F  A 

Clocks    etc 

-  G     .  .         Stov 

esand  Hardware. 
.   D   G     etc 

S  &  H  

v  —  W.'B'.'.'. 

V  &B  

Pub'rs 

-I     . 

Cabinetankr. 
.Clothing- 

_&v  —  

.  Gen'l  Com'n 

-E  

Gunsmith. 

G.  t 
Cotton  and  Com'n. 
G    S 

-P  Confec., 
-  W 

Banker,  and  Ex- 
change. 
D  G 

-  T.  R.  .  . 

...D.  G.,  etc. 

[TO  BE   CONTINUED. 1 


INDIANAPOLIS, 


A  D.  M     . 

Broker. 

B  -     C  H 

Patent  Medicines. 

A  C  

.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

Chairs. 

A          H  &  Bro 

Saddlers 

C         W  S 

Printer 

A  &  G  

Wood. 

C  &  T  . 

Engines,  etc. 

A         E   S 

Real  Estate 

C         J  H 

.Jeweller 

A  D  W  
B  &  Co     

Co. 
Factory. 

C  R.  P.  .  .  . 

.  .Photographic  Mtr'ls. 
Money  Lender. 

B         &D     •••.. 

.  .Real  Estate. 

C  R.  &  Co. 

Coal. 

B          &  Son 

Drugs 

D        -J  

Fruits,  etc. 

B          H  S 

.   Agent. 

D  R  M  .  . 

.      .  .  .Millinerv. 

B         W   P   &  Co 

Jewelry 

D  H 

.   Notions   etc. 

B         FA 

D         W  J    & 

Co                    H'dware. 

B  J.  C.  &Co... 

.  .  .Whol.  Lqrs. 

D  C.  .  . 

.  .  .  Drugs. 

THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


255 


D Bro.  &  Co Clotli.n0. 

D W Boots  and  Shoes. 

D C.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Sup. 

D J.  B Drugs. 

D J Shoes. 

D M Tanner. 

E &  0 . .....  .Carpenters,  etc. 

E S Stoves. 

F I.  L Stoves. 

V I.  T Tobacco  Broker. 

(i A Carpets. 

G I H C Co. 

G J.  C Mill. 

G J.  W Hotel. 

G H,  &  Co Mill. 

G G.  O Lqrs. 

H M.  T Giro. 

H A.  N.  &  Co Machines. 

H J.  0 Newspaper. 

H &  M Drugs. 

H J.  C Saddler. 

li R &H Undertakers. 

H K &  Co D.  G. 

-J.  W Cigars. 

-  S L S Co. 

-C.  D Hotel. 

_  p &°p Co. 

-  W W . 

J A Candles. 

J E.  W Marble. 

J J Marble. 

K A Jeweller. 

K J.  S Drugs. 

K C Gro. 

K A Drugs. 

L L.  &  Co Notions,  etc. 

L Miss Millinery. 

'  L &  L Iron  Works. 

M J.W...  ...Chairs. 


-  E Druo-s. 

-E D.G. 

-  S Liquor. 

-  H &0 Agts. 

-  J.  P Brewer. 

-  P &  Co Coal. 

-  C Chairs. 

-  W.  L Sewing  Machs. 

-D Mnfr. 

-II • Fey  Gds. 

-  C Plumber. 

J Ale. 

•E.  L Statnr. 

-  H Boots  and  Shoes. 

J.  T Lumber. 

S P Co. 


R Mrs.  M Hotel. 

R W Stoves. 

U &  p Gro. 

R &  S Furniture. 

R &  L Coal,  etc. 

R R.  R.  &  Co Pumps,  etc. 

S C Gro. 

S J .Notions,  etc. 

S &  Co Lumber. 

S Mrs.  L.  D. . .  , Millinery. 

S W Gro. 

S M.  H.  &  Co Notions,  etc. 

S J Boots  and  Shoes. 

S J.  B.  &  Co Lqrs. 

S Mrs.  S.  L Millinery. 

S J Harness. 

T &  S Factory. 

V S.  C Publisher. 

W L.  S Chemicals. 

W E.  H Hotel. 

W &  S Drugs. 

W B &  Co Printers. 

Y &  P Books. 

Z T...  ...Jeweller. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


JEESET  CITY,  E\  J. 


A W &  G P Co. 

C A Lumber. 

D S  Hulling  Mach. 

F J.  A Shoes,  etc, 

G M Stoves. 

G R.  L Dry  Goods,  etc. 

G T Livery. 


II A.  &  Co Fey  Gds. 

H W.  C .Iron. 

J C I W 

K W Drugs. 

L T.  T Tin,  etc. 

L L.  D H'dware. 

M B. . . Real  Estate. 


256 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


31 J.  A Newspaper. 

M B Co. 

M J.  M.  &  Co Livery. 

M B.  H Drugs. 

E.  S.  &  Co Clothing. 

C.  G Contractor. 

&  F Brewers. 


S J Boots. 

S W.  D Books,  etc. 

T H.  A Gents'  Furn'g. 

W &  C Coal,  etc. 

W J.  P Coal. 

W S.  R Lqrs. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


KANSAS   CITY,  MO. 


I.  H Hardware. 

H.  W Furniture. 

A.  A Genl.  Com'n. 

Agts. 
Lqrs. 

D Agent. 

B &  Bro D.  G.  and  Gro. 

&  Co Gro. 

Bros Pianos. 

W.  E Drugs. 

J.  H News. 

M Hotel. 

J.  N Leather. 

E W.  B. Builder. 

F N.  R.  &  Son .' Gro. 

F H.  C.  &  Co Hotel. 

G M.  B.  &  Bros Cattle  Dealers. 

G W.C Lqrs. 

H J.  &  Son Hotel. 

H I.  P Gro. 

H G.  W H'dware. 


&C D.  G. 

&D Gro. 

W Prod,  and  Feed. 

&  Co Jewellers. 

R.  H.  &Co Coal,  etc. 

J.  L.  &Co H'dware. 

&  T Furniture. 

A.  S Hotel. 

&  W Publishers. 

M I.  W Saddlery. 

M J.  E Drugs. 

M &  S Machinists. 

M &  Co Cattle  Dealers. 

R &  Bro Vinegar. 

R E.  P Boots  and  Shoes. 

R &Co D.  G. 

S J.  C Hotel. 

T &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

T H.  &  Bro Whol.  Tobacco. 

T G Gro. 

T &  B Agl.  Implts. 

W J.  Q.  &  Co Bankers. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


257 


LAWRENCE,  MASS. 


J.  R Gro. 

Gro. 

Mrs.  A.  M Fey  Gds. 

W.  E ' Jeweller. 

B A.  D Books,  etc. 

B R.  &  Co Newspaper. 

C W.  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

C B.  D Bobbin  Mnfr. 

D.  Jr.  &  Co Gro. 

Mrs.  J Liquor. 

S.  &  Son Contractors. 

T.  W Hotel. 

W Millinery,  etc. 

W.  B Waterproof  Cloth. 

J J.  K Pottery. 


Braid  Mnfr. 

.Boots  and  Shoes. 
.Drugs. 
&  B Co. 

•  H Jeweller. 

MissR Fey  Gds. 

W Fey  Gds. 

M.  A Harness. 

D Liquors. 

M.  A D.  G. 

J.  A.  &  Co Painters'  Sups. 

-  J Sewing  Mach. 

-A.  H Gro. 

-S...  ...Gro. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


LEAYEISTWORTH,  KAN. 


A S Capitalist. 

A E.  B ; Capitalist. 

A J.  M Stationer. 

A J.  &  Co Lqrs. 

B M   Clothing. 

B W.  C.  Jr.  &  Co Boots. 

B T.  G Prod. 

B F.  B Furrier. 

C T Printer. 

C E Coal,  Grain,  etc. 

C M.  A Gasoline. 

C C Agent. 

C W Gro.,  etc. 

D M.  E Gro. 

D 0 Contractor,  etc. 

E L Marble. 

G T.  C Seeds. 

H Miss  A Milliner. 

H 0.  J Ins.  Agt. 

H J.  W   Agent. 

H A.  A Agent. 

H S.  E Capitalist. 


II I.  P , Gen.  Store. 

I J Lumber. 

I S &  Co Bankers. 

K W &  C Co. 

K T Co. 

K W.  D Agt. 

K &  W Brewers. 

K J.  B Contractor.. 

K A.  T.  &  Co Livery. 

L L Dry  Goods  and  Clothing. 

L J Boots  and  Shoes. 

M— —  &  Co Agl.  Implts. 

M H.  L.  S Livery. 

M W Printer. 

M J.  W Capitalist. 

N B D.  G. 

R J.  S.  &  Co Hotel. 

R M Packer. 

S F.  W Gro. 

W J.  A Lqrs.,  etc.. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


258 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


LOCKPORT 


Y. 


A M. Hotel. 

B S.M Lime. 

B &  G Gro. 

B R Miller. 

B A.  A Prod.,  Fwdg.,  etc. 

B H Drugs,  etc. 

B J.  L Carpets,  etc. 

C H.  F Boatbuilder. 

E S.  M Gro. 

G.  B ...Miller. 


H Mrs.  A.  C Clothing. 

K P.  &  Bro Fey  Gds. 

K J.  P Sashes,  etc. 

M A.  J .' Glass. 

M J.  P Afft. 

P J.  H Fwdg. ,  etc. 

P &  Co Wool. 

P G v.  .Dairy. 

R T Carriages. 


gent.   I  U Mrs.  E.  S Clothing. 

.D.  G.   I  W W.  J. . .  . .  .Dyer. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


LOUISVILLE,  KY. 


A A.  J Lumber,  etc. 

A H.  C Physician. 

A C Books,  etc. 

A rJ.  C Gro.,  etc. 

A W.  E Hotel. 

A H &  Co Pork. 

E D.  S Com'n  Prod. 

B Bros.  &  Co Liquors. 

B W Blacking,  etc. 

B &  F Foundry. 

B M.  &  Co Foundry. 

B M &  Co Carpets,  etc. 

B C.  F Chairs. 

B R.  R.  &  Co Stat'y,  etc. 

B J Capitalist. 

B R.  L Com'n  and  Prod. 

B I Millinery. 

T? H.  S.  &  Co Notions. 

C &  T Liquors. 

C D &  Co Stock. 

-C &  M . . .  Com'n. 


C D &  Co Gro. 

C &  Co Com'n. 

C E.  H.  &  Co Liquors. 

C A D.   G. 

C M D.   G. 

C Mrs.  A.  H F'cy  Goods. 

D M &  Co Foundry. 

D J Grb. 

D D.  &  Co Hides,  etc. 

D F Books. 

E H &  S Hats,  etc. 

E J.  V.  &  Son Pictures,  etc. 

F F Lard,  etc. 

F J Parlor  Furniture. 

F H Books. 

G J Fruits,  etc. 

G E.  S Publisher. 

G Mrs.  A.  E Millinery. 

G Mrs.  W.  F D.  G. 

H J Elevators,  etc. 

H K &  Co Furniture. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


259 


H M &  Co Clothing. 

H J Builder. 

II G Gro. 

H I Contractor. 

H &  A Gro. 

II &  Son Gro. 

H H.  J Physician. 

II- &  Bro Printers. 

K J Confec. 

K J Gro.,  etc. 

K J Hats. 

K •  J.  &  Co Newspaper. 

L B.  C Agent. 

L A.  &  Co Clothing. 

L J.  S Stoves. 

L D Foundry. 

L A.  B Confec. 

L J Nails. 

M W M Co. 

M W.  H Carpets. 

M T D.G. 

M W.  H Boots  and  Shoes. 

M J Jewelry. 

M &  V B'krs. 

M J.  W.  &  Co Saddlery. 

N N &  Co Florists. 

N M Clothing. 

N E.  P.  &  Co Hardware. 

O R.  F. ..  ..,Gro. 


P D.  G Real  Estate. 

P E.  &  Co Cigars. 

P M Brewer. 

R M.  C Jewelry. 

R M.  &  Son Wagons. 

R M Carriages. 

R L Saloon. 

R J.  H.  &  Sons Gro. 

S F Trunks. 

S C Gro. 

S F Clothino-. 

Glue. 

A Machines. 

F Flour  Mill. 

A Brkr. 

S M &  Co Liquors. 

S Mrs.  L : Brewery. 

S G.  M Hemp  Dusters. 

T Miss  K '.Fancy  Goods,  etc. 

T J.  H Newspaper. 

V C.  J Drugs. 

V P Real  Estate. 

W J.  C Books. 

W &  B Tobacco. 

W- — J.  S.  &  Co Tobacco. 

W H A &  Co Livery. 

W J.  H.  H Agent. 

Y &Co ...Ro6fers. 


[TO   BE   CONTINUED.] 


LOWELL,  MASS. 


A S Dry  Goods  and 

Sewing  Machines. 

A W.  &  Son Flocks. 

B A.  &  Co Planing  Mills. 

B W Furs. 

B E Gro. 

B M.  A Gro. 

B M Provisions. 

B J.  M Fancy  Goods. 

B S.    D. Foreign  Fruits. 

B E.  O Notions. 

B S Tinsmith. 

C C.  E Drugs. 

C P.  &  Co Gro. 

C S Co. 


N Iron. 

C E.  G Tanner. 

D -T Tailor. 

D J.  &  Son Mnfrs. 

D A Mnfr.  Shoe  Shanks. 

F F Mason. 

F O.  D Drugs. 

F G.  R Ladies'  Suits. 

G J Boots  and  Shoes. 

G J Boots  and   Shoes. 

H M Dry  Goods. 

H B.  V Shoes. 

H D.  W Coal. 

H J Mnfr.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

H C Newspaper. 


260 


THE   COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


K  R  

Machinery. 

8- 

L          J    H 

Hats  Caps    etc 

s 

L  F  S  
L  D  &  Son 

-Co. 

.  Mnfrs  Knives 

S- 
T-. 

M  J   A   .    . 

-Co. 
Mnfr 

T- 
T- 

M     -     O  

Furniture 

W- 

M  D.  J  

Liquors 

W- 

P          J.  N  

Machinist. 

W- 

R  A.  J... 

.  .  .  Produce. 

J Mnfr,  Shade  Rollers. 

A.  W Gro. 

S &Co Flour. 

T Co. 

•T Waters,  etc. 

J.  M.  &Co Boxes. 

J Roll  Coverer. 

-G.  H Mnfr. 

-  Bros.  &  K Gloves. 

-W.  H...  ...Builder. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


MASS. 


A S.  T Hotel. 

A J.  L Upholsterer. 

B T.  W Shoes. 

B S.  J Shoes. 

B W.  N.  &  Co Coal,  etc. 

S.  H Boots,  etc. 

W.  &Co Gro. 

Shoes. 

B W.  N Stitcher. 

B H.  H Drugs. 

C C.  H Builder. 

C H.  R Boot  and  Shoe  Mnfr. 

C H.  &  N Morocco. 

C •  B.  F Carpenter. 

D &  D Shoes. 

D B.  &  Co Shoes. 

D H.  T Boot  and  Shoe  Mnfr. 

G W.  H Paster  Inner  Soles. 

G S.  A Shoes. 

G S.,  Jr Shoes. 

H J.  W Cement. 

H G.  W Stiffenings. 

H P.  C Shoes. 

H W.S ...Gro. 


H &  D Shoes. 

H^^  P.  H Builder. 

J L.  S Slippers. 

K J Paints  and  Oils. 

K J.  P Hotel. 

C:  H Uppers. 

J.  W Shoes. 

J.  P Shoewax. 

S.  S Boots  and  Shoes. 

J Gro. 

G.  W Shoes. 

M R Carpenter. 

N &  W Shoes. 

P E Shoes. 

P G Shoes. 

P J Shoes. 

P H.  L Shoes. 

R J.  R Stoves,  etc. 

S &  P Shoes. 

P.  P Shoes. 

A.  F Shoes. 

&  M Shoes 

T W.  S Operator. 


[TO  BE    CONTINUED,] 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


261 


MANCHESTER,  N.  H. 


B G.  F Auctioneer. 

C J.  B.  &  Co Leather. 

C T Provisions. 

C T Clothing. 

C W Needle  Mnfr. 

C D Gro. 

E W.  H Jeweller. 

F S.  C.  &  Co Machinists. 

G F .Boots  and  Shoes. 

H P.  W Hotel. 

H A.  D Tobacco. 

J C.  H Fey  Gds. 


M S.  T.  &  Co Druggists. 

M S &  L Co. 

M &  Co Gro. 

N &  H Machinists. 

R J Lqrs.,  etc. 

S A.  W.  &  Co Carriages. 

S Bros Stoves. 

W G.  W Millinery. 

W A.  C Lumber. 

W A.  H Clothing. 

W Mrs.  J.  L Fc,y  Gds.,  etc. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


MEMPHIS, 


A B &  Co Furniture. 

A S.  M Com'n. 

A M.  &  Son Boots  and  Shoes. 

A J.  L Fancy  Goods. 

A T.  P.  &  Co.  ..Cotton  and  Com'n. 

B H D.  G. 

B M.  F Gro. 

B &  S Whol.  H'dware. 

E.  P.  &  Co Cotton  Factors. 

B &  Co  Com'n.. 

II D.  G.,  etc. 

M.  M Sewing  Machines. 

B.  J Com'n. 

N.  A.  &Co Gro. 

B H Furniture. 

B J.  T.  &  Co Com'n,  etc. 

B &  C Books  and  Stat'y. 

B C.  G.  &  Co. . .  .Prod,  and  Com'n. 

B J.  M Cotton. 

B W.  M Stockyards,  etc. 

B W Newspaper. 


&P- 


- Cotton  and  Com'n. 


J.  J.  &Co Com'n. 

J.  S Cotton. 

W.  J.  &  Co Feedstore. 

E.  L Books  and  Stat'y. 

E.  D.  &  Co. .  .Cotton  and  Com'n. 

...:... D.  G. 

J.  W Contractor. 

H.  C.&Co Prov. 

Hats  and  Caps. 

Com'n. 

&  B It.  E.  Agency,  etc. 

J.  S Cotton  Buyer. 

-  W.  J Upholsterer. 

-  R &  Co . .  Cotton  and  Com'n. 

T.  A Stoneworker. 

S D.  G. 

&  D .  . .  .Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

F Gro. 

-  S Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  Bros Cigars,  etc. 

-W.  B.,  Sr Capitalist. 

-  G Furniture. 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


-  J.  S.  &  Co Books  and  Stat'y. 

-J.  E Gro. 

—  R.  C Newspaper. 

-B.  A Dyer. 

-  H.  G Pianos  and  Music. 

-  C &  H ..Whol.  Notions. 

-G Baker. 

—  D.  &  Son Gro. 

-  &  S Printers. 

-F.  W.  &  Co.  ..Cotton  Factors  and 

Com'n. 

-  D.  C.  &  Co Publishers. 

-  K &  Co. Wagon  Factory,  etc. 

-J.  T... Whol.  Gro. 

-  C Builder. 

-  S.  D.  &  Co Com'n. 

-  S Brewer. 

-  &  G Florists,  etc. 

-&  Co Plumbers. 

-  P. . ., Machinist. 

-L D.  G. 

-  C D.  G.  and  Clothing-. 

-  L  Clothing. 

-  M.  &  Co D.  G.  and  Clothing. 

-W Newsdealer. 

-  W Plumber. 

-  &  Co Com'n  and  Prod. 

-  P.  J.  &  Co Plumbers,  etc. 

-  R.  M Gas  Machine. 

-  J Stone  Works. 

-  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  &  Co Whol.  H'dware. 

-  T Marble  Works. 

_  &  A P Co. 

-A 

_  &  R R 

-R 

-  G.  &  Bro Whol.  Paper. 

-  V.  B Com'n,  etc. 


T— 
T— 
T— 
T— 
U— 
V— 
W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 

w— 

W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 
W- 


&  S Boots  and  Shoes. 

J.  &  A.  P Carriages. 

A.  R fc Com'n. 

G, Claim  Agent. 

J.  A.  &  Co. .  .Cotton  and  Com  n. 

J.  C Speculator. 

&  M Cotton  Shed. 

G.  W.  &  Co. Gin  and  Machinery. 

C &  Co Com'n  and  Gro. 

S.  G D.  G. 

J.  N Gro. 

B Coniec. 

&C Hotel. 

M &  M R . 

N Clothing,  etc. 

J.  B Cotton  Buyer. 

&  S Cotton. 

C Plumber. 

J Paperhangings,  etc. 

G.  W.  &  Co Com'n. 

J.  M.  &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

&  Co Auction  and  Com'n. 

L D.  G. 

F.  W Drugs. 

-  &  Co Storage. 

-  Miss  A.  A Millinery. 

-  &  G Carriages. 

-  C.  C.  &  Bro Whol.  Drugs. 

-  &  Co Dental  Depot. 

-  G.  G.  &  Co Gen'l  Com'n. 

-Z.  H Hotel. 

-  E.  &  Co Publisher. 

-  T &  Co.  ..Rolling  Mill,  etc. 

-  G.  J.  &  Co Lumber. 

-  A.  N.  &  Co Feedstore. 

-  J.  M.  &  Co.  .Cotton  and  Com'n. 

-  &  Co Mnfrs.  Bitters. 

-M D.  G. 

-  &  Co Drugs. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.} 


MILWAUKEE,  WIS. 


A G.  A Foundry. 

A D Clothing. 

A P.  N Blacksmith. 

A A ., .Stages. 


O.  &  Co. .  .Bankers  and  Brokers. 

M &  Co Dry  Docks,  etc. 

J Marble. 

Bros Whol.  Saddlery. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


263 


J.  W.  &  E.  J Com'n. 

G Boots  and  Shoes. 

&  R Whol.  Dru^s. 

&  M Com'n. 

H.  M Wood  and  Coal. 

F Com'n  and  Distillery. 

F Mill. 

&  P Coal  and  Wood. 

P Boots  and  Shoes. 

.  W.  &  Co Carpets  and 

Mnfrs.  Woollen  Goods. 

Miss  I Milliner. 

F.  &  Son Com'n  and  Prod. 

J Gro. 

J.  B.  &  Co Pianos. 

H.  L Mdse.  Broker. 

K &  K . .  A 0 Co. 

H.   S Photographer. 

L.  J.  &  Co Ag'\  Implts. 

J.  W.  &  Co Painters. 

&  B Whol.   Tobacco. 

N Co Printers  and 

Pub'rs. 

&  B Newspaper. 

T.  P.  &  Co Painters  and 

Wallpaper. 

E.  G. . Com'n. 

W.  W Mdse.  Broker. 

L Lumber. 

L Roofer. 

J.  H  Whol.  Gro. 

G Tanners. 

W.   J Wool. 

T Whol.  Liquors. 

F Hats  and  Caps. 

R.  P.  &  Co Coal. 

T Co. 

J Wagons,  etc. 

F.  &  Bro. . .  .Flour  and  Woollen 

Mills. 

A.  D Agent. 

J.  W Boilermkr. 

J.  S.  &  Sons Upholsterers. 

...Mnfrs.  Furniture. 

W.  &  Co Whol.  and  Ret. 

Hardware. 

Whol.  Liquors. 

M Hotel. 

S Dry  Goods. 

&  Co Carpets,  etc. 

S Mnfr.  Slippers. 

T Fruit,  etc. 

A Vinegar. 

F Whol.  Hats  and  Caps. 

J Boots  and  Shoes. 

&  S Millinery. 

J.  M Notions. 

E.  A Foundry. 

W Rags. 

&  S Publishers. 

K  C Jeweller. 


H &  D Ins.  Agents. 

H C.   J Com'n  Flour. 

H J Gro. 

H H  Notions. 

H &  V Com'n  and  Ins. 

H J.  H Jeweller. 

H W Composition  Marble. 

J J.  &  H Furniture. 

J P '. .  Blacksmith. 

K F Liquors. 

K S D.  G. 

K F Type  Foundry. 

K &  C Hotel. 

K I.  &  Co Notions,  etc. 

K A Boots  and  Shoes. 

K A D.  G. 

K E Musical  Insts.,  etc. 

L C.  C Saw  Works. 

M R.  A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Soap. 

M A.  D Boots  and  Shoes. 

M J.  S.  &  Co Lumber. 

M J.  T.  &  Co Musical  Insts. 

M &  S Foundry. 

M H Feed. 

M J Wagons. 

M H &  L Co. 

M U D Co. 

M &  N W^  S M Co. 

M F Cigars. 

M M &  Co Flour  Ma. 

chinery. 

&  D Doors,  Sashes,  etc. 

Printers. 

B.  A Com'n. 

F Wines,  etc. 

E.  B.  &  Co Com'u. 

A.  P.,  Son  &  Co Soap,  etc. 

A Miller. 

G Sashes,  Doors,  etc. 

D.  G R.  E.  Agent  and 

Trip  Hammer. 

R W.  C Ag'l  Implts 

R J Fruit,  etc. 

R R.  &  Co Clothing. 

R P.  Jr Com'n. 

R L Distiller. 

R Bros Whol.  Liquors. 

R A.  &  Co Jewellers. 

S R Wines  and  Liquors. 

J G.  S. 

J.   H R.  E,  Wood,  etc. 

J.  &  Co Bridge'Builders. 

C.  A Furniture. 

C Wood  and  Coal. 

&  P Ales  and  Liquors. 

M &  Co Gent's  Furn'g 

Goods. 

&Co Books, 

&  C Pub'rs,  etc. 

H Mnfr.  Hats. 

g &  Co Lumber. 


264 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


U A Com'n.  W- 

W J.  P.  &  Co Com'n.  ,   W- 

W J.  W Prod,  and  Com'n.  W- 

W W.  A Billiards.  W- 

W E Boots  and  Shoes.  Z— 


-R.  J.  C Fruit,  etc. 

-A Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

-  J.  T Packer. 

-  &  M Ag'l  Implts. 

&  R Jewellers. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


MOBILE,  ALA. 


T.  S Books  and  Stationery. 

W.  A Drugs. 

H &  Co Drayage  and 

Storage. 

J Com'n. 

H.  W Drugs. 

Mrs.  M.  C Hotel. 

Z Drugs. 

L.  &  Co Cigars. 

E.  W.  &  Co Produce. 

J.  &  Co Cotton  Com'n. 

J D.  G. 

&  \V Gro. 

J.  D  Harness. 

J.  A Furniture. 

S Gen.  Store. 

L.  G.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

R.  L.  &  Co Tobacco. 

G Jeweller. 

C P Co.     . 

I.  L Drugs. 

E.  F Cotton  Com'n. 

S.  N.  &Co Dredgers. 

J.  &  Co Founders. 

B.  R Boots  and  Shoes. 

Mrs.  M Boots  and  Shoes. 


M M Cotton  Factor. 

M I.  A.  &  Co Com'n. 

M &  Son Cotton  Brokers. 

M J Livery  Stable. 

M D Furniture. 

M F &Co D.  G. 

M G.  H Boots  and  Shoes. 

M W.  H Auction. 

M A.  J Safes. 

M M Furniture. 

X C.  D Gro. 

P &  P Cotton  Pickery. 

P L.  &  Co Gro. 

P A.  A.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

P W.  D Seeds,  etc. 

P C Whol.  Hardware. 

R A.  B.  &  Bro Cotton  Press. 

S E.  R R.  E.  and  Ex.  Bkr. 

S J.  F.  &  Co Gro.  and  Com'n. 

S I Co. 

T R.  E Prod.  Com'n. 

T &  C Lumber. 

W W.  L Cotton  Factor. 

Y G.  W Hotel. 

Z G.  &  B. . .  . .  .Furniture. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


265 


MONTREAL,  QUE. 


A A.  &  E Imps.  Leather. 

A E  - Banker. 

A &  Co Fey  Gds. 

B E.  I.  &  Co Livery. 

B &  S Express. 

B W.  H Crockery. 

B W.  P.  &  Co Founders. 

B B . .  .Contractor. 

B S.  W.  &  Co Coal. 

B A.  R Liquors. 

B E Coal  Oil. 

B C Provisions. 

B A,  &  Co Furs. 

B J Butcher. 

B &C ...D.  G. 

B D.  &  Co Com'n  Merchants. 

C W.  A.  &  Co.  . .  .Coffee  and  Spice 

Mills. 

C S.  &Co D.  G. 

C J.  B D.  G. 

C J.  &  Co Soda  Water. 

C C.  E Wines,  etc. 

C A Trader. 

D N.  &  Co Bkrs. 

D &  P Cigars. 

D S.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Cigars. 

D J Contractor. 

D E Hotel. 

D &  M Gro. 

D J.  N D.  G. 

E D Com'n  Teas. 

E H.  &  Co Imps.  Cigars,  etc. 

F R Marble  Works. 

G &Co D.  G. 

G M &  Co Gro. 

G J.  G Lithographer. 

G E.  E Machinist. 

G S Tailor. 

G F Mnfr.  Trusses. 

H &  Co Lumber. 

H J.  N.  &  Co. .  .Whol.  Hardware. 

H D.  A Fancy  Goods. 

H T.  W.  &  Bro Liquors. 

H &  S Fwdrs. 

H M.  &  Sou Mnfrs.  Hats. 

H E.  Fils  &  Co Dry  Goods,  etc. 

H B Whol.  Gro. 

K &  Co Machinists. 

K W.  L.  &  Co Engin'rs'  Agts. 

K A Cooper. 

L H.  &  Co.  . .  . .  .Produce. 


R Lumber. 

L.  H.  &Co Whol.  D.  G'ds. 

F Lumber. 

A Carpenter. 

R Flour. 

T.  &  Co. ....  .Boots  and  Shoes. 

J. .  .Whol.  Jeweller,  and  Fancy 
Goods. 

L M Hoopskirts,  etc. 

D.  E.  &  Co Drugs  and  Oils. 

W.  F.  &Co Wines. 

C.  B.  &  Co Lumber. 

L.  &  Son Brokers. 

P.  P.  &  Co Whol.  D.  G'ds. 

J Agent. 

D.  I Gro. 

W Straw  Works. 

D Leather. 

&  Co Lumber. 

M &  J— — Forwarders. 

M W.  M Iron  Works. 

M H.  &  Co .Dry  Goods. 

M G.  W Com'n  D.  G. 

M M.  &  Co Lumber. 

M P Wood  and  Coal. 

0 J.  &  R Whol.  Dry  Goods. 

P c.  E Furniture. 

P W Mills. 

P J Jeweller. 

P J Mnfr.  Cider. 

P L.  &  Co Printers. 

R W.  H.  &  Co Com'n. 

R T.  &  Co Paper  and  Stat'rs. 

R P.  A Lumber. 

R G.  L.  &  Son Shoes. 

R P Dry  Goods. 

R &  j Oils,  etc. 

R B.  &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

R A Confec. 

S- 0.  &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

g D.&J Books. 

S C.  E Leather. 

S Bros.  &  C — - Tanners. 

S H.  J.  &  Co Auctioneers. 

T M.  &  Co Shoes. 

T E.  H.  &  Co Shoes. 

T M Dry  Goods. 

V N.  &  Co Iron  Founders. 

W &  F Shoe  Findings. 

Y J.  M...  Prov. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


E"ASHYILLE,  TE10T. 


R.  F Hardware. 

F.M Carriages. 

&  A Jewellers. 

J.  W Boots  and  Shoes. 

&  Co Auction  and  Com'n. 

&  J Lumber. 

&  P Com'n. 

A.  L.  &  Co Patent. 

C A.  W. .- Scales. 

C J Clothing. 

C Bros Lumber. 

C W Gro. 

C S Dry  Goods. 

C &Co Gro. 

C J.  0.  &Co G.  S. 

C1 &  Co Auction. 

B.  R Shoes. 

D.D Mill. 

P &  Co Drugs. 

F E.  H Cotton  Broker. 

F E Hotel. 

F E.  &  Co '.  .Boots  and  Shoes. 

G R.  I Drugs. 

G M.  C.  &Co Saw  Mill. 

G H Clothing. 

G J.  P.  &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

H C.  B Boots  and  Shoes,  etc. 

H &  Son Com'n. 

H G.  W Drugs. 

II W.  T Cotton  and  Com'n. 

II &  Son Dental  Depot,  etc. 

II S Clothing. 

I Miss  E . . .  Milliner. 


-  &  W Restaurant. 

-  C Printer. 

-  J.  N.  &  Co Leather,  etc. 

-  J.  E.  &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

-  J.  A.  &  Bro Music. 

-  M Dry  Goods   and  Boots 

and  Shoes. 
-H &  Co Gro. 

-  J.  &  Sons Saddlery,  etc. 

-  &  H Clothing,  etc. 

-  A Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  T Cotton  Speculator. 

-  S.  &  Son Clothing. 

-  Mrs.  E.  F Gents'  Furn'g. 

-G.  &  Co D.  G. 

-C.  L Gro. 

-  J.  A.  J Clothing. 

T.  F Photographer. 

H.  G R.  E.  Agent. 

C &  R Co. 

&  P : Carpenters  and 

Builders. 

H.  C Oils. 

N U . 

&  P Brewery. 

S.  &  Co Leather,  etc. 

.  &  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  I.  &  Co Jewellers. 

-  Mrs.   E Millinery. 

-  J -Mer.  Tailor. 

-  W.  E F S . 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


267 


1OJWABK,  KJ. 


A F Fertilizers. 

A H.  B Jewelry. 

A &  C Stoves. 

A J.  G Oilcloth. 

A &  S Brewers. 

A I) Lumber,  etc. 

&  Co Machinists. 

P Contractor. 

H T Co. 

M Co. 

M Co. 

W.  J Boots  and  Shoes. 

S Morocco. 

J Livery. 

E A.  L Undertaker,  etc. 

F J Soda. 

G R.  J Engines. 

G A Imp.  Wines. 

G A Books,  etc. 

H C Contractor. 

H W.  W Cooper. 

H C.  H Slater. 

II W.  A.  &  Co Clothing. 


J M Co. 

K J.  H Wagons. 

M M .Prov. 

M P Liquors. 

M J Hats. 

M L.  B Mattresses. 

M S &  Co Machinists. 

M J.  &  M.  A Livery. 

N T T Co. 

0 M Spring  Mnfr. 

P C Co. 

R J.  H Springs. 

R &  S Junk. 

R W Bags. 

S U Brewer. 

S &  S Flour,  etc. 

T &  W Boots. 

V N ' Silverplater. 

W A Boots,  etc. 

W C.  &  B Brewers. 

W J News  Depot. 

Z &  B . . .  . .  .Plumbers. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


,  CT. 


A A.. 

A N— 

A J... 

A H. 


Lqrs. 

Co. 

Oysters. 

Architect. 

B G.  M House  Mover. 

J Hotels. 

G.  A Lqrs. 

&  W Boots  and  Shoes. 

W.  A Daguerreian. 

T Gro. 

M Co. 


B &  D Bros Gents'  Furn'g- 

B W Builder. 

B C.  W Hotel. 

B F.  S.  &  Co H'dware. 

B I.  M Drugs. 

B W.  H.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Coaches. 

B M.  P Corset  Mnfr. 

B S D.  G. 

B F Boots  and  Shoes. 

B B Gen.  Store. 

B G Cigars,  etc. 


26S 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


.  &  g Stk  Bkrs. 

J Harnessmkr. 

P Lqrs. 

C.  L .Cabtmkr. 

.H'dware  Mnfrs. 

L.  &  Co India-Rubber. 

&  Co Publishers. 

J.  E Dry  and  Fey  Gds. 

R.  T Hotel. 

-  J.  G Flour  and  Feed. 

-  H.  D.  &  Co Bldrs'  Materials. 

-  E.  A Paperliangings,  etc. 

-  0 E Co. 

.  p, w P Co. 

-&S Whol.  Prod. 

-  &  Co Carriages. 

-  F.  A.  &  Co Stoves,  etc. 

-C.  C.  &Co Shirts. 

-B &Co D.  G. 

-  W.  J.  &  J.  E Tinners. 

-H.  P Mnfr. 

-  W.  P Builder. 

-  T  Harnessrnkr. 

-H Gro. 

-  &  P Machinery. 

-E Hotel. 

-  C.  P Gro. 

-  P .Brewery. 

-  Bros Publishers. 

-  R.  H... Printer  and  Steam  Heat- 

•      in#. 

-  J.  L Harnessmkr. 

-  B Real  Estate. 

-  E Steel  Shanks,  etc. 

-  C.  F Auctioneer. 

-  A.  J.  &  Co Builders. 

-D.  M Hotel. 

A.  G Fruit. 

-  &  B Lumber. 

-  H.  H Gro.  and  Prov. 

-  E. . .  . .  .Lumber. 


-A Boots  and  Shoes. 

.  w F Co. 

-  J.  T Perfumery  Mnfr. 

-W....- Gro. 

-P Gro. 

-P Lqrs. 

-  &  S Iron  Foundry. 

-  M Co Needles 

-  C Tobacco. 

_  E F Co. 

-  F Oysters. 

-  F.  0 Wire  Works. 

-  E.  P Window  Springs. 

-F Leather. 

-  C Ins. 

-  W Billiards. 

-M.&S D.  G. 

-F Saloon. 

-J.  C Tailor. 

-  J.'  G.  &  Co "...Ins. 

-  &  O Tobacco. 

-  W Gro. 

-  C.  H Mnfr.  Coach  Lace. 

-  J.  S Fey  Gds,  etc. 

-  Bro.  &  Co Brass. 

-J.  H Pickles. 

-L  J Real  Estate. 

-D.  F Gas  Fixtures. 

-S Broker. 

-  W.  J Musical  Insts. 

-  B.  N.  &  Co Oysters. 

-  H.  J Boots  and  Shoes. 

C.  &  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

H.  B Gro. 

S Iron. 

J Gro. 

-  G Flour. 

J.  E Stoves. 

J.  D Drugs. 

-  H.  N.  &  Co Crockery. 

-  J.  M. . .         .  ..Picture  Frames. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


NEW-ORLEANS,  LA. 


-  J.  F Variety. 

-G.  E Lqrs. 

-  J Drugs. 

-C.  W.  &Co   Com'n. 

-  G.  &  Co Brewery. 

-  &  L Bakery. 

-  L . Tinsmith. 

-  &  N Whol.  Boots  and 

Shoes. 

-  J &  Co.  Whol.  Boots,  Shoes, 

D.  G.,  etc. 
•I.  &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

L.  &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

•M Whol.  Millinery. 

P Tailor. 

•H C.  H.  Broker. 

.  &  C Whol.  H'dware. 

-  J Paints. 

-  J Exchange. 

-  J.  A Lumber. 

F Com'n. 

C.  W Broker. 

&  V Wines,  etc. 

R.  Y Bonded  Warehouse. 

O Cotton  Factor. 

&  W Steam  Cotton 

Gunnery. 

J Foundry. 

M Clothing. 

T.  M.  &  Co Com'n. 

W.  C.  &Co Whol.  Grain. 

T.  S Planters'  Agent  and 

Com'n. 

J.  B ' Saloon. 

B.  &  W D.  G. 

J.  P Oils  and  Lamps. 

-  T.  &  Sons D.  G. 

-P D.  G. 

-  J.  A Hotel. 

-P Blksmith. 

-  M Pianos. 

-A Gro.  and  Coffee. 

-H Ale  Bottler. 

-  J Gro. 

-P.  H Gro. 

-  C &  Co Com'n. 

-  &  D Bldng  Materials. 

-  J Saloon. 

•G.  J Builder,  etc. 

-  D Sugar  Broker. 


G R Stoves. 

G F Tailor. 

G M.  &  Son Com'n. 

G Bros Hats. 

H J.  G Broker. 

H B Gro. 

H R Tailor. 

H W.  &  Co Cotton  Factors. 

H J.  F.  &  Co Restaurant. 

H A.  F Gro. 

H P Mill,  etc. 

H &  G Cotton. 

H &  V Com'n. 

H J.  M Powder. 

H L Coffee  House  and  Wood- 
yard. 

H &  M Produce. 

H A.  W Stationery. 

I G.  B.  &  Co Saloon. 

J J.  W Builder. 

F Books. 

&  Co Coal. 

W.  A. Oil  and  Lamps. 

E Fancy  and  D.  G. 

G.  H.  W Boots. 

L D.  G. 

S D.G. 

I.  K.  &  Son Notions,  etc. 

V Gro. 

•  J.  G Com'n  Cotton. 

L &  B Ship  Brokers. 

L P Cemetery  Marble. 

L C  Brewer. 

M T Gro. 

M II Fancy  Goods. 

M D Clothing,  etc. 

M L Gro. 

M N D.G. 

M G.  F. Com'n  Coal. 

M J Produce. 

M S.  E Crockery,  etc. 

p &  R Gro. 

P &  T Hay  and  Feed. 

P E Cotton  Brkr. 

Q F.  A Nursery. 

R Mrs.  C Millinery. 

J Saloon. 

J Boots,  etc. 

F.  L Furniture. 

F. . .  . .  .Gro. 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


J Saloon. 

&  Co H'dware. 

J Crockery. 

J.  A Boots. 

&B Gro. 

S F Boots. 

S T Leather. 

S B Variety. 

S M.  &  Co H'dware,  etc. 

S &  K Rice. 

S D Stationery. 

S J.  B Gro. 

S J.  G Gro.,  etc. 

S M &  Co Com'n. 


S J Broker. 

S &  M Crockery. 

S G Marble. 

T &  A Cotton. 

T R.  F Gro. 

T W.  C D.  G. 

T &  Co Mdse.  Bkrs. 

T M Gro.,  etc. 

V &  B Wines,  etc. 

V C Boots. 

W J.  J Brewery. 

W M Paints. 

W F.  &  Co Butchers. 

W &  M Clothing. 


[TO    BE    CONTINUED.] 


^OEFOLK,  YA. 


A J.  S.  B Fancy  Goods,  etc. 

B W.  R.  &  Co Com'n. 

B A.  S.  &  Co Whol.  Gro.,  etc. 

D.  G. 

W.  &W D.  G.,  etc. 

Gro.  and  Liq. 

B D.  B Carriage  Mnfy. 

B B.  B Com'n. 

C A &  H D.  G. ,  etc. 

C &  H Com'n. 

E H Oyster  Packer. 

E- —  &  P Crockery. 

F S D.  G.,  etc. 

G J.  O.  Jr Lumber  and  Coal. 

G J.  R Stoves,  etc. 

G &  C Mnfrs.  Funnels. 

G M &  Co Furniture. 

G J.  W G.  S. 

H W.  T.  &  Son Upholsterers. 


H W.  T.  &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

H W.  T .  Confec.,  etc. 

K Mrs.  B Liquors. 

K F.  L Drugs. 

K J.  H Tailor. 

L W Shipping  and  Com'n. 

M A.  A Lumber. 

M R  W.,  Son  &  Co. . .  .Hardware. 

R Bros.  &  Co Com'n. 

S L Furniture,  etc. 

_&L Whol.  Gro. 

and  Com'n. 

S.  W WThol.  Liquors. 

.  E &  W .Whol.  Hdware. 

E.  &  Co Liquors. 

-  B.  F Prod.,  etc. 

-  S Boots  and  Shoes. 

_&H . ..  Gro. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


271 


O^WEGO,   ]ST.  Y. 


A G.  W D.G. 

A H D.  G.  and  Notions. 

A G Capitalist. 

A A Hotel. 

B F.  E Gro. 

B B.  D Jeweller. 

B E Boots  and  Shoes. 

B P.  0 Clothing. 

B C.  W Tobacco. 

C W.  G Oil. 

C T Painter. 

C E Saslies,  etc. 

D &  Sons Carriages. 

D A &  Co Millers. 

P J.  &  Co Gro. 

F A.  &  H Clothing. 

T Gro. 

Co Lumber. 

H D Junk,  etc. 

H J Fish  and  Fruit. 

H E Lumber. 

H S.  J Boots  and  Shoes. 


J D Com'n. 

K A Gro. 

L B Liquors. 

M P Upholsterer. 

M A.  M Hotel. 

M J.  J         D.  G. 

M &  M Brokers,  etc. 

N M.  P Clothing. 

O J.  &  Co Gasfittings. 

O M Co. 

O P Co. 

P J Tailor. 

P C Paints. 

P J.  L Paperhangings. 

R W Gro. 

R I.  &W Gro. 

R L.  B Jeweller. 

S R.  E Tools. 

T &  B Painters. 

W A Picture  Frames. 

W C.  H. . .  . .  .Builder. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


PATEBSCOT,  N.  J. 


A D Harness. 

A C.  B.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Silk. 

B M Liq  uors. 

B L.  J.,  Jr Silk  Mills. 

C E Lamps  and  Oil. 

C W Scrap  Iron. 

C &  H Crockery. 

D J Contractor. 

F T Gro. 

G 0.  V Drugs. 

G &  L Dyers. 

H &  Co Furniture. 

H W Cottons,  etc. 


J.  H Painter. 

-S.  C Miller. 

•  J Cotton  Mills. 

C Coal. 

Bros Silk. 

L  G Fancy  Goods. 

Hotel. 

R M Co. 

-  B C Co. 

M Co Machinists. 

G Tinsmith. 

J.  P Hotel. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


272 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


A J.  K Clothing. 

A J Coal. 

A R.  Jr Coal. 

A T.  M Flour  and  Feed. 

A E Clothing. 

A S Clothing. 

A W.  S.  &  Co Sashes,  etc. 

A &  K Lumber. 

A A Liquors. 

A G.  &  Co Music. 

A &  Bro Coal. 

A V.  E D.  G. 

A D Hatter. 

A E.  D Lumber. 

A F &  Co Queensware. 

A H Grist  Mill. 

A W Shoes. 

A H &  Co.Mnfrs.  Sewing  Silk. 

A H &  L Co. 

A S.  W  Tobacco. 

B C.  W.,  Jr Flour. 

B J Furniture. 

B T.  W Jeweller. 

B J.  J.  &  Co. Hosiery,  Notions,  etc. 

B F.  &  Co Brandies. 

B H.  A R.  E.  Agent. 

B S.  M Tailor. 

B E Hotel. 

B J Mnfr.  Shawls. 

B J.  P Gents'  Furn'g. 

B &  S Files. 

B P Stoves,  etc. 

B A.  &  J.  B D.  G. 

B W.  T Spar-yard. 

B H Gro.,etc. 

B W Gro. 

B Bros H'dware. 

B &  S Clothing. 

B T.  &  Bro Finishers. 

B I Brewer. 

B &  R D.  G. 

B E Notions. 

B- D.  &  Son Coppersmiths. 

B A.  &  Bro Lumber. 

B &  G Factors. 

B J Wines. 

B C Lqrs. 

B R. . .  ...  Machinists'  Tools. 


E Mnfr.  Carpets. 

&I Co. 

Co Hatters. 

&F Liquors. 

F.  E Horn.  Druggist. 

G.  &  Co Japanned  \Vare. 

&  G Chemists. 

Mrs.  J Crockery. 

Bros Mnfrs.  Paper. 

W.  H.&CO Lumber. 

&  Bros. . .  .Hosiery,  Gloves,  etc. 

E Coal. 

&  Co Mnfrs. 

M Co Machinery. 

J.  G.  &Co Cars. 

&  Bros Whol.  Dyestuffs. 

&  Son Printers. 

D.  &  Bro Lumber. 

M C Co. 

W.  R.  &  Co Iron  Pipes. 

&  M Liquors. 

P Coal. 

J Painter. 

P &  W .  .L Works. 

E Millinery. 

&  K Tin  Plate,  etc. 

S.  S.  &  Co Confectionery. 

&  A Sash  Mill. 

W.  P D.  G. 

G.  w.  H &  Co Whol. 

Drugs. 

T Co Sleeping-Cars. 

M Co. 

E.  W.  &  Co Brokers. 

J.  S Ranges  and  Stoves. 

T Com'u  Merchant. 

T.  &  W Liquor?. 

M.  Jr.  B &  N Co. 

J     D.  G. 

J Hotel. 

J H'dware. 

S.  I.  &  Co Flour  and  Grain. 

&  Bro Gro. 

S Whol.  Linen  Gds. 

F Soap. 

.  C Auction  and  Com'n. 

J.  W.  &  Bro Mnfrs.  F'cy  Ca- 
binet Ware. 
W.  &  Sons.. Ships  and  Engines. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


273 


•  &  Co Carpets. 

G.  &  Sous Wines. 

&  K Bankers. 

J Builder. 

E Catholic  Bks. 

-R Mnfr. 

•  L.  &  Co.. .  Whol.  Millinery  Gd's. 

•  K Flour,  etc. 

•J.  F Millinery. 

-J.  &  J Mnfrs.  Woollens. 

•  T.  &  Co Mnfrg.  Hosiery. 

-B.  &Sons China. 

•H.  A Seeds. 

•  &  Bro. Liquors. 

- 1 Co. 

•  Bros , Bankers. 

J.  S.  &  Sons Paintings  and 

Looking  Glasses. 

J.  &  Son Soap. 

F Toys,  etc, 

C &  Co Bankers. 

T Co. 

J.  &  Co Com'n  D.  G. 

D &  H Notions. 

B.  F Gen'l  Com'n. 

R &  Co Whol.  Drugs. 

Bros.  &  B .  .Whol.  Clothing. 

C P R Co. 

R &  Co Coal. 

P Brewery. 

•  K &  Co Bricknikrs. 

•  W.  W Mnfr.  Bibles  and 

Albums. 
•&Co Oils. 

•  &  H Co. 

•  H.  W Hotel. 

•  £  G Mnfrs.  Cottage 

Furniture. 
&  S S P R Co. 


M N &  B Sugar  Re- 
finers. 

M W Stationer. 

M T.  J Liquor  and  Distiller. 

M S &  Co Cotton  Brokers. 

M &  Bro .Gen'l  Com'n. 

M W.  C.  &  Co Brokers. 

M H.  G Machinist. 

O J.  S.  &  Son Grain. 

P J.  W.  &  Son Leather. 

P R.  &  Co Com'n  Cotton. 

Philadelphia  C Co. 

Philadelphia  P B M Co. 

Philadelphia  &  S M Co. 

p S.  R.  &  Son Whol.  and  Ret. 

Saddlers. 

P I Co. 

P R.  H Coal. 

P c &  I Co. 

R H.  R Whol.  D.  G. 

R M.  &  Co Mnfrs.  and  Com'n. 

R J Corks. 

R H.  W Tobacco. 

R M.  &  Co Lumber. 

R &  B Gas  Generator. 

R D.  E Sewing  Machines. 

R J Imp.  Drugs. 

R- S.  T.  &  Son Builders. 

S P M Co. 

S M £  Co Iron  Founders. 

S &  N P R Co. 

S W &  Co Miners  and  Coal 

Shippers. 

W.  Frames,  Looking  Glasses,  etc. 

W.H Coal. 

W.  &A.  J Hardware. 

J,  G Carpets. 

M Co '. .  .Paper. 

J.  T.  &  Co Carpet  Yarns. 

J...  ...Builder. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


274 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


PITTSBURGH,  PA. 


J Jeweller. 

J Lumber. 

V R Co. 

B M Co. ....      . .  .Sasli 


-  D.  D.  &  Co Gro. 

-  J.  C Molasses  Cans. 

-  C.  II.  &  Son Coal  and  Coke. 

-  S.H Gro. 

-  J.  J.  &  Bro Tobacco. 

-T Teas. 

-  W.  A.  &  Bro.  .Boots  and  Shoes. 

W.  B Contractor. 

S Mer.  Tailor. 

C.  C Oil. 

-  &  S Mdse.  Brokers. 

J Coal. 

-  T.  L.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Office 

Furniture,  etc. 

Mrs.  M Notions. 

N.N Builder. 

A H'\vare  and  Gro. 

J Wines,  etc. 

J.  M.  &  Son Boilers. 

H.  W.  &  Co. . .  .Mineral  Water. 

W.  &  Son Land  Dealers. 

J.  R Wigs. 

A Liquors. 

-  J.  M.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

Bros Stained  Glass. 

-Co. 
T Co Glassware,  etc. 


J.  W Hotel. 

A.  J .Hotel. 

C Co. 

S.  P Tobacco,  etc. 

I Co. 

J.  M Boots  and  Shoes. 

Bros.  &  Co Pianos  and 

Musical  Insts. 

&W Coal. 

W.  H Clothing,  Hats,  etc. 

G.  &  Co Jewellers. 

&  P R.  E.  Agents. 

J.  A Notions. 

J Bricks. 

J.  R Furniture. 

T .Mer.  Tailor. 

W...  ..  .Mer.  Tailor. 


D P Co. 

D J.  H Brass  Founder. 

D G Co Dealers  Glassware. 

D H .' Mnf r.  Bricks. 

D J.  II Physic'n  and  Drugs. 

D A &  Co Coal. 

D Bros Gro.  and  Liq. 

D J.  L Whol.  Liquors. 

D W.  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

E J.  D Books. 

E D Whol.  Tobacco. 

E &  G '. Hotel. 

E G Scales,  etc. 

E F Co. 

E D.  W.  °.' Variety. 

F W Jeweller. 

F C Hotel. 

F J.  S.  &  Co Distillery. 

F &  Bro Oil  Dealers. 

F Mrs.  C Gro. 

F D.  H.  &Son D.  G. 

G B Co Mnfrs.  Bricks. 

G C Tailors'  Trimmings. 

G J.  W.  &  Co D.  G. 

G &  B Patent  Agents. 

G S Agent. 

G W.  J Trunks. 

G P Silks. 

G &  M Nursery. 

G I.  W Com'n  Coal. 

H H &  C Co. 

H W £  Co.  .Grain,  Flour,  etc. 

H M.  &  O ..  .Mnfrs.  R.  R.  Iron. 

H &  M Rags,  etc. 

H O.  C Drugs. 

H A.  &  Co Engine-builders. 

II D.  P R.  E.  Agent. 

H E Brewer. 

H L Lumber. 

II F.  Jr Gro. 

H W.  &  Co Com'n  Whol. 

Tobacco. 

H W.  A R.  E.  and  Ins.  Agent. 

H J Lumber,  etc. 

H G.  B.  &  Co Brokers. 

H W.  &  W Coal. 

H H.  M...  ...Coal. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


275 


-  &  II Belting  and  Rubber 

Goods. 

-  C.  &  Son Contractors. 

-  A &  Co Mnfrs.  Bolts. 

-  J.  W. .  .Whol.  Lightning  Rods. 
.&Co Saw  Mill. 

P Clothing. 

.  &  B Teas,  etc. 

-  D.  M Teas,  etc. 

-  J.  J.  &  Bro Patent  Rights. 

-  P Liquors. 


-  J.  W Jeweller. 

-  &  Co..  .Prop's  of  G W . 

-G Tin. 

-  D Harness. 

-  Mrs Variety. 

W.  J Drugs. 

L.. Coal. 

0.  F IF  ware  and  Mnfr. 

Hubs. 

II.  A. Com'n  Iron. 

W.  A.  &  Co Pianos. 

R.  T Oil  Broker. 

W.  II Furniture. 

M Trunks. 

G.  W Tailor. 

&Co .-..Oil. 

&  C— — Com'n  Pig  Metal. 

J Boots  and  Shoes. 


C.  II 

&  B . . . 


R.  E.  Agent. 
Ins.  Agents. 


J.  15.  &  Co. .  .Mnfrs.  Flint  Glass. 

S &  Co Iron. 

Mrs.  S.  W.  . .  .Fancy  Goods  and 
Millinery. 

-  A.  A Stock  Broker, 

-  H.  R.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Brooms. 

-J.  J Whol.  Teas. 

-D.  A Coal. 

-J.  S Coal. 

.  &  D Whol.  D.  G. 

-  P Linen  Goods. 

-  Bros Scrap  Iron. 

-  D.  &  Co Iron. 

-  P &  Co Furnace. 

-  T.  K.  &  Bro Variety. 

-  W.  F Leather. 

-  M.  K Tobacco  Broker. 

-&  Co Hotel. 

-  M.  L Carpenter. 

-C : Tailor. 

-R.   S Tailor. 

-  J Variety. 

-M Clothing. 

-  W — ~-  &  Co Tanners. 

.  B of  P . 

-C Marble. 

-  D.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Patent  Tin 

Cans. 

-  S.  &  Son Furniture. 

-  H &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 


M P.  H Gro.  and  Liq. 

M C.  &  Bro Cabinetmkrs. 

M — —  J.  M.  &  Co Jewellers. 

M D D &  Co Springs  and 

Axles-;. 

M &•  X Job  Printers. 

M C.  W Confec. 

M L.  &  A Saw  Mill, 

M P Gro. 

M S Tin  and  Woodenware. 

X J Carriagemkr. 

X C II Co. 

X F.  C.  £  Co Coal. 

X W Mnfr.  Colored  Glass  and 

Painter. 

P F.  G Burning  Fluid. 

P C.  II Hats  and  Caps. 

P M Co Patent  for  Steam 

Boilers. 

p &  v Liquors. 

P T.  F D.  G. 

Pittsburgh  &  C S R Co. 

Pittsburgh  &  St.  L I I Co. 

P C.  T .....Oil. 

P &  J— Scenic  and  Fresco 

Artists. 

P J.  B Lumber. 

P H Wagons  and  Carriages. 

P J Clothing,  Hats  and  Caps. 

P W.  G.  Sr Foundry. 

R J.  S.  &  Co Oil. 

R &  R Coal  and  Lumber. 

R J Com'n  Iron. 

R J.  W.  &  Co Coal. 

R A Mnfr.  Corrugated  Iron. 

R C Pianos. 

R J Brewery. 

R T.  R _. .  .Boots  and  Shoes. 

R W.  W.  £  Co Lumber  and 

Planing  Mill. 

It J.  r> Coal. 

R R.  J Analytical  Chemist, 

K__  &  \y Coal. 

R II.  G Carpenter. 

R L Hotel. 

R M Hotel. 

.  .Woodenware,  etc. 

&  H Physicians. 

S &  II— Clothing. 

S F.  W.  &  Bro Carriages. 

S J.  J.  &  Bro Printers,  Books, 

etc. 

S P Furniture. 

S J.  A Tailor. 

S C Tin  and  House  Furn'g. 

S T Co. 

S C.  A Tobacco. 

S L.  B Fancy  Goods. 

S T Clothing. 

S G.  E Boots  and  Shoes. 

S N  . .  . .  .D.  G. 


276 


THE   COMMERIAL   AGENCIES. 


T.  A Editor. 

W.  J.  &  Co Fruit  and  Prod. 

A Liquors. 

&  Co Coal  and  Coke. 

&  G B Co. 

•J.  I Jeweller. 

C Liquors. 

Co. 

&  B Firebricks. 

Bros Oil  Brokers. 

L Boots  and  Shoes. 


T 0 Co. 

U S I &  T P Co. 

W W.  W Marble  and  Machine 

Works. 

W S.  B Builder,  etc. 

W Bros.  &  Co Iron. 

W H Brewer. 

W J.  W Mufr.  Gaspipe  Tongs, 

etc. 

W J.  W.  &  Sons Furniture. 

W J.  T. Contractor.- 

Y S.  M.    .  ...Gro. 


[TO    BE    CONTINUED  ] 


PORTLAND,  ME. 


A E.  C Books. 

A B.  &  Sons Furniture. 

B &  W Misses Fey  Gds. 

G.  W.  H Baker. 

W' &  Co Brushes. 

J.  J Gro.,  etc. 

D.  W.  &Co Ice. 

F.  W Bricks. 

D.  W » Com'n  Flour. 

&  W Lumber. 

K R.  E.  Bkrs,  etc. 

J.  &  Co Gro.,  etc. 

L  L Mow'g  Mach. 

A Furniture. 

J.  B.  &  Co Painters'  Oils,  etc. 

F C.  H Tanner. 

F C.  R.  &  L.  E Builders,  etc. 

F A.  P Varnish. 

G M.  S.  &  Co Hotel. 

G G.  G Boots  and  Shoes. 

G W &  Co.  ..Boots  and  Shoes. 

H S.  B Carriages. 

H &  M Millinery,  etc. 

H W.  P Organ  Mnfr. 

H H.  H Drujrs. 

H J.  &  Co Gro. 

H W.  F Hotel. 

I C.  L.  &  Co Clothing. 

j &  W Coal  and  Wood. 

K G •  &  Co Flour. 

L &  Co Plumbers. 

L J Apothecary. 


-  W &  Co Ship  Stores. 

-J.  F Stabler. 

&  W Flour. 

T.  &  Co Whol.  Gro. 

-P Lqrs. 

-G.  H Periodicals. 

-  E Druggist. 

-  C &  B Lumber. 

-M.  G Boots. 

-N.  M.&Co H'dware. 

-  &  Co Machines. 

-  M W 

-  W.  A Bookbinder. 

-C.  D Hotel. 

-A Books. 

-&M Wood,  etc. 

-  &  C Lumber. 

-  G.  C.  &  Co Fey  and  D.  G. 

-  &  Bro Spruce  Gum. 

-  J , Carriages. 

-  Bros Pictures,  etc. 

-  O.  P Razor-Strap  Mnfr. 

.  G &  Co Shoes,  etc. 

-G.  W.  &Co Spices. 

-  G &  Co Flour,  etc. 

-E.  L  Drugs. 

-A.  B Chandler. 

-  J Iron  Founder. 

-L.  D D.  G. 

-E.  N D.  G.,  etc. 

-&  C Findings. 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


277 


W B Co. 

W T.  H Gen'l  Com'n. 

W W.  W.  &  Co Drugs. 


&C- 

M 

P.  E. 


.Lumber. 
...Hotel. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


PORTLAND,  OE. 


G Com'n. 

&  II Saw  and  Planing 

Mills. 

Mrs.  L D.  G.,  etc. 

J.  G Contractor. 

C.  C Books  and  Stat'y. 

W.  &  Sou Gunsmiths,  etc. 

.B.  &  S.,  Clothing,  etc. 

•  M &  Co D.  G.,  Gro.,  etc. 

•  E.  J. . .  .Builder  and  Contractor. 

•  &  G Boots  and  Shoes. 

•I Painter. 

•H.  II Crockery. 

•  A Saloon. 

W.  &  Son Mer.  Tailors  and 

Sewing  Machine  Agents. 
&  M Whol.  Gro. 

•  K Money  Broker. 

•  T Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

•  A.  J Agent. 

&  D Gro. 

A.  &  Co Boilermkrs. 

M.  &Bro D.  G.,etc. 

•  W Prod.  Dealer. 

J.  W - Builder. 

•  J.  &  Co Drugs. 

•  &  C Contractors  and 

Builders. 

J.  L Contractor. 

R.  S Hotel. 

.  g &  L T Co. 

•  E.  B Gro.,  etc. 

•  B. . .  .Steamboats  and  Railroads. 
•P...  ...Locksmith. 


&  S Butchers. 

-J Clothing. 

F.  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

J.  &  Co Com'n. 

J.  R Stoves  and  Tinware. 

L H.  R Contractor. 

M S.  J Books  and  Stat'y. 

M M.    Boots  and  Shoes. 

M J.  .  .Whol.  D.  G.,  Millinery,  etc. 

M &F D.  G.,  etc. 

M A.  L Clothing. 

M D Glue  and  Curled  Hair. 

M J.  B R.  R.  Contractor. 

M C.  H Plumbing  and  Gas- 
fixtures. 

&  U Tailors. 

and  C 

Co 

Pub'r. 

W.  T....: Agent'S.  M. 

S.  F.  .Carriagemkr  and  B'smith. 

D Clothing. 

J . .  .Doors,  Sashes,  and  Window- 
Glass. 

B.  F Lime  and  Cement. 

Bros.  &  Co Lumber. 

B.  L Jewelry,  etc. 

C Books  and  Stat'y. 

.  &  M Saddlery. 

I W 

R T Co. 

•  &  M Gro.,  etc. 

R D.  G.,  etc. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


278 


THE    COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


POUGHKEEPSIE,  K  T. 


•  S.  B,  &  Son Boots,  etc. 

&  M Drugs,  etc. 

J Boots  and  Slices. 

E D.  G. 

W.  H Tailor. 

A.  F Boots  and  Shoes. 

G.  L Stoves,  etc. 

R Builder. 

L Tobacco,  etc. 

F.  &  Son Stoves. 

E Crockerv. 


H L.  E Crockery. 

H P.  M Drugs. 

H J.  C D.  G. 

M W.  R Fey  Gds. 

M F.  Jr Stoves,  etc. 

M A Boots  and  Shoes. 

M Mrs.  J Wooden  ware. 

P J.  J Coffees,  etc. 

R A B'smith. 

S D.  Sons Soap,  etc. 

V M.  &  Co. . .  Brewers. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


PEOVIDENCE,  E.  I. 


A T Cotton  Dealer. 

A E.  &  Co Carriages,  etc. 

A S Mnfr.  Cotton. 

A T Hotel. 

A W W Co. 

A G.  O. .  .Periodicals  and  Fey  Gds. 

A D Co.  .Mufrs.  "Woollen  Gds, 

etc. 

B A.  O Jewelry. 

B J.  M Patternmkr. 

S.  W. .  .Mnfr.  Prints  and  Horse 
Blankets. 

?".  &  Co. .  .Steam  and  Gas-Pipe 
Fitters. 

T.  H Pianos. 

W.  H D.  G. 

B F.  L Harness,  etc. 

B J Boots  and  Shoes. 

B G Tea  and  Gro. 

B E.  W Fey  Gds,  Toys,  etc. 

B C.  E.  &  Co !Mnfrs.  Ladders. 

B &  B Mnfg.  Jewellers. 

B J.  B.  &  Co Mnfg.  Jewellers. 

B H. . .  . .  .Brass  Founder. 


B C H Co. 

B G.  W.  B Gro. 

B Bros. . .  .Flour,  Grain,  Hay,  etc. 

J Pile  Driver. 

&H Books. 

E.  S Fey  Gds. 

H.  A.  &  Co.  .Mnfrs.  Comforters. 

H.  T. .'. .  .Jewelry  and  Fey  Gds. 

D.  Jr Apothecary. 

S.  W.  &  Co Fruit  and  Prod. 

&  G Lumber  Dealers. 

D.  B.  &  Son Hay,  etc. 

C.  B Drugs,  etc. 

C.  G.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Kaleido- 
scopes. 

C Pig  Iron  and  Stoves. 

C G.  M Gas  Pipes. 

C B.  B Painter. 

C T &  Co Furniture. 

C J Paints,  etc. 

C S.  B.  &  Son. .  .Mnfg.  Jewf" <••:.-•. 

C E.  P Silk  Ribbons. 

C J.  H Apothecary. 

C E.  S Mnfr.  Straw  Goods. 


THE    SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


270 


C W Co. 

C J.  M.  &  Son D.  G. 

C &  W Carriage  H'dware. 

C A. Fancy  Goods  and  Periodicals. 

C J.  B.,  Jr D.  G.  and  Gro. 

C L.  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes 

C J.  M Gro. 

C C.  E Teas,  etc. 

C &  S Gro.  and  Liq. 

C P.    C Lqrs. 

C J.  E.  &  Co. . .  .Mnfrs.  Carriages. 

C J.  H Pickles,  Fruit,  etc. 

C &  R .  .Mnfrs.  Spiral  Springs. 

D W &  Co Whol.  Drugs. 

D &  M— — Gasfixtures. 

D L ..' D.  G. 

D M Co. Mnfrs.  Wringers  and 

Tools. 

D C.  T Com'n. 

I) C.  &  Co Mnfg.  Jewellers. 

D M Gro.  and  Liq. 

I) J.  F Broker. 

D W.  H Nursery. 

E &  p Express. 

E C.  F.  &  Co Cotton  Goods. 

E H.  W Mnfr.  Carriages. 

E J &  E Co. 

F G.  E.  B Drugs. 

F J.  ..Lace  Goods  and  Underwear. 

F N.  B Composition  Roofing. 

F D Co. 

F M.  F.  &  Co Apothecaries. 

J Gro.,  etc. 

P O— 

A Mnfr.  Shirts. 

N.  L.  &  Co Cotton. 

T Lqrs. 

J.  &  Co Brokers  Drugs,  etc. 

S.  C.  &  Co Fancy  Goods  and 

Periodicals. 

II.  &  Co. .  .Gro.,  Liq.,  and  Prov. 

Bros Lqrs. 

G N.  G Cotton  Broker. 

H D.  G Gro.  and  Liq. 

H •  C.  W Sewing  Machines. 

II W.  A Steam  Engines,  etc. 

II G.  '&  Sons Whol.  Prod,  and 

Fruit. 

II &  W .  ..Laces  and  Fey  Gds. 

H &  Co Machinists. 

II E.  A Coal  and  Grain. 

II I.  M Mnfg.  Jeweller. 

H G.  L Flour  and  Grain. 

J &  C '.Agents. 

J C.  W.  &  Bro Mnfrs.  Paper 

Boxes. 

K J Liquors. 

K D.  H Whol.  Gro.  and  Fruit. 

K P Wool  Waste. 

K &  Co House  Furn'g. 


K &  P Boots  and  Shoes. 

L H &  Co Gro. 

L W.  H. . .  .Gro.,  Flour  and  Grain. 

L W Tob.,  Periodicals,  etc. 

L O.  E.  &  Co. .... .  .House  Furn'g. 

L D Whol.  Teas  and  Spices. 

L M Co Soap. 

L C.  11 Jeweller. 

L T.  J Mnfg.  Jeweller. 

M W Gro.,  etc. 

M M Saloon. 

M J Liquors. 

M J D.  G. 

M J.  H D.  G. 


M W.  S Wool. 

M S.  M Printer. 

M A Mnfr.  Hoopskirts,  etc. 

M T.  L Cotton  Dealer. 

M J.  A. .  .Mnfr.  Foundry  Facings. 

N B Co. 

N R Co. 

N G.  H Coal. 

O A.  G Fire  Supplies. 

O C.  J Coal. 

O M &  Co ...!...  Mnfrs.  Wire. 

P E.  A Wool. 

P J.  B.  &  M H'dware. 

P A.  &  Co.  Wool  and  Wool  Waste. 

P H.  C Hotel. 

p &  H Gro. 

P M.  V Hotel. 

P C.  F Mnfr.  Woollen  Yarns. 

P E.  B Boots  and  Shoes. 

P J.  L.  &  Co Starch  and  Oil. 

P F.  C Advg.  Agent. 

P J.  C Jeweller. 

P J Co Japanners. 

P M G &  P M Co. 

Q Co Print  Cloths. 

R T.  A.  &  Co Cotton. 

R O Mnf  r.  Carriages. 

R T.  C Hats,  Caps,  etc. 

R G Mnfr.  Woollen  Goods. 

R S.  E. Stationer. 

R I B F M 

Co. 

F S Co. 

R I N Co. 

R Bros Cotton  Brokers. 

R J Fancy  Goods. 

R W I Co. 

R Bros D.  G. 

R C Boots  and  Shoes. 

•  J.  A.  &  D.  S Woollens. 

Furn'g  and  D.  G. 

E.  A H'dware. 

G.  M Auction  and  Com'n. 

G.  W Liquors. 


280 


THE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


S J.  E Mnfr.  Chandeliers. 

S S.  W. Cotton  and  Cotton  Waste. 

S W.  S Cotton. 

S Bros Men's  Furn'g. 

S A.  J Apothecary. 

IS B.  S Hair  Goods,  etc. 

S G.  J Mnfr.  Caps  and  Clo. 

S A.  &  W.  M Co. 

S J.  L Carpenter. 

S- &  M M Co. 

& B.  F Woodenware. 

T O.  A.,  Jr.,  &  Co. . .  .Mnfrs.  Starch 

and  Gums. 

T C.  F.  ..Mnfr.  Patent  Cop.  Tubes. 

T J.  F Hotel. 

T L Mnfr.  Horn  Jewelry. 

T L.  H.  &  Co Plumbers'  Mate- 
rials. 


T &  M N Co. 

T G.  &Co D  G 

T E.  W.  &  Co D  G 

U A L Co. 

V A &  Co Books,  etc. 

W S &  Co. .  .Genl.  Coin'n  and 

Oil  Mers. 

W N Boots  and  Slices. 

W E.  M.  &  Co. .  .Boots  and  Shoes. 

W O.  B Coal. 

W J.  H Steam  Heaters. 

W W.  H Stoves,  etc. 

W S.  B Fruit  and  Prod. 

W B.  W Stock  Broker. 

W- G.  E Hats  and  Caps. 

W J   Mnfr.  Woollens. 

W A.  &  Co Fruit  and  Com'n. 

W J.  S Harness  Weaver. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


RALEIGH,  1ST.  C. 


P.  &  w Gro. 

Mrs Milliner. 

J.C G.S. 

S Gro.  and  Liq. 

E.  W Gro. 

Dr.  G.  W Hotel. 

r.  M Hotel. 

•  L Books,  etc. 

T.  B Speculator. 

C.  S Hotel. 

N.  L Confec. 

J.  E.  H Drugs. 

•J.H Books. 

-  J Editor. 

-S.D Gro. 

-J Gro. 


K J.  L. . . .   Patent  Pumps. 

K Mrs.  &  Son. . . .  rGunsmiths,  etc. 

L J.  S Whol.  Liquors. 

L A.  G.  &  Sons Com'n,  etc. 

L J.  C.  S Tinner. 

N P Co. 

E &  H Liquors. 

S W Drugs,  etc. 

T J.  M Auction  and  Com'n. 

U A.  N Gro.  and  Liq. 

W J.  W Photographer. 

"W B £  Co Com'n  and 

Cotton  Factors. 


[TO  BE  COXTIXUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


281 


RICHMOND,  VA. 


A — —  R ...... Baker. 

A A , ,  iv*. Coufec. 

A It.  P. Imp.  Tobacco. 

-*  £.;  Jr Tobacco. 

Books. 

&  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

P Clothing. 

M Clothing. 

W.  W.  &  Co Editors. 

L Clothing,  etc. 

J.  N Gro. 

E.  J Ropemkr. 

M Liquors. 

Mrs.  E.  V Millinery. 

J.  L Hotel 

S &  Co Com'n. 

&  O It Co. 

A.  D.  &  Co Com'n  Tob. 

C A.  &  Co Fancy  Goods. 

C C.  A Hats. 

C J.  F Coal. 

C E House  Furn'g. 

D J Brewery,  etc. 

D R.  H Com'n. 

D J.  P Drugs. 

E G.  W.  &  Co Carpenters,  etc. 

F R.  J.  &  Co Fertilizers. 

F J D.  G.  and  Clothing 

F W.  L Confec. 

F S.  G Planing  Mill. 

F L.  H.  &  Co Tobacco,  etc. 

G J Liquors. 

G C Tobacco,  etc. 

G &  B Printers. 

G J.  H ' Tobacco. 

G O.  P.  &  Co Tobacco. 

G J Tob.  Boxes,  etc. 

H tf.  C.  &  Co Mills. 

H R Contractor. 

H C.  H Paper  Boxes. 

H &  P Publishers. 

H G.I Whol.  Gro. 

H M Com'n  D.  G. 

II S.  D Com'n. 

H I Notions. 

J J.  F Mdse.  Broker. 

J Mrs.  L.  P Milliner. 

J W.  M Speculator. 

K M Shoes. 

K W.  T...  ...Mills. 


K J Trunks. 

L J.A.,  Jr Gro. 

L F Undertaker. 

L P Clothing. 

L S D.  G.  &  Shoes. 

L &  Bro . . .  It.  E.  and  Auctioneers. 

M W.  M Com'n  Liq. 

M J Auctioneer. 

M J.  V.  L Hardware. 

M C Fertilizers. 

M J.  H Coal  Oil,  etc. 

M C .Restaurant. 

M Mrs.  T Fancy  Goods,  etc. 

M — -  R.  H.  &  Co Com'n. 

M D.  C.  &  Co Tobacco. 

M A.  M D.  G. 

M W.  H Baker,  etc. 

M J Whol.  Gro. 

M M Clothing. 

M M/&  Bro Clothing,  etc. 

N O." Gro. 

N &  Bro Hardware. 

0 R.  W Mnfr.  Tobacco. 

P H.  T Gro. 

P Mrs.  W.  T T 

P P Co. 

P G.  S Tobacco. 

R F.  J Wines  and  Liq. 

D P &  C M 

R.  F.  &Co Coal. 

D.  G. 

M.  J Mnfr.  Cigars. 

S J.  W Cabinetmkr. 

S J.  G Cabinetmkr. 

S J D.  G.,  etc. 

S &  Co Smoking  Tobacco. 

S E.  J Gro.  and  Liq. 

S &Co Shoes. 

S J Gro.  and  Tobacco. 

S S Guns,  etc. 

S W.  H Livery  Stable. 

S J.  F D.  G.  and  Notions. 

S H D.  G.  and  Clothing. 

T S.  C.  &  Co Whol.  Gro.  and 

Com'n. 

T C.  F.  &  Co Who!.  Gro. 

T W D.  G. 

T P Leather  and  Findings. 

T &  Bro Tobacco. 

U M Co ...  ...  Tobacco. 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


&  Co Publishers. 

A Restaurant. 

.Mnfrs.  Tobacco  Boxes. 


Mrs.  E.E 

&  \V 

J.  F... 


Gro.,  etc. 

Clothing. 

Liquors. 


[TO    EE    CONTINUED.] 


EOCHESTEE,  ]^.  Y. 


A D Gro. 

A O.  E Hotel. 

A E.  R Printer. 

B J Carpenter. 

B P &  S Lumber. 

B Bros Tailors. 

B A Meat. 

B T Pictures. 

B J.  M Gro. 

B I Capitalist 

C W.  &  Son Leather. 

C \V Mason,  etc. 

C R &  Co.. Covering  Machines. 

C B.  H Staves,  etc. 

C H Cooper,  etc. 

C M Bookseller,  etc. 

D &  L Millinery  Goods. 

1) D.  M Books,  etc. 

H W.  &  Co Cotton  Batting. 

E J &  M Bankers. 

F W.  S Printer. 

F J Gro. 

F T Tanner,  etc. 

F J Hatter. 

F &  Co Nursery. 

G G.  W Turner. 

G &  Son Soap. 

G A &  Co Furnaces,  etc. 

G &  Son Shoes. 

G Bros.  &  Co Bankers. 

G M Edge  Tools. 

G J Shoes. 

G S Hats. 

H Mrs.  J Ladies'  Underwear. 

H V Tailor. 

H B M Co. 

H H.  J.  &  Co Scales,  etc. 

H Bros Stairbuilders. 

II C Boots  and  Shoes. 

K &C .  ..  ...Bankers. 


M. 
C.. 
J.. 
J.. 


.Con  fee. 
. . .  .Gro. 

Gro. 

. .  .Gro. 


-  &  Co Lumber. 

-  J Cooper. 

-  J.  \V.  &  Bro Pianos. 

-  S.  G Furniture. 

-  S Clothing. 

-E.  P Machinist. 

-  L.  W Flour,  etc. 

-  C.  &  Co Gro. 

-  &  II Vinegar. 

-P Blacksmith. 

-  S Chandler,  etc. 

-  M Jeweller. 

-D Clothing. 

-  &  C Stoves,  etc. 

-  H.  S Capitalist. 

-J .Ag'l  Implts. 

-  F S Co. 

-  F &  C Co. 

- 1 M Co. 

P .Gro. 

F.  &  Co Hardware. 

B Gro. 

.  &  M Stoves. 

.  S Showcases,  etc. 

.  E Clothing. 

F ....Gro. 

S Gro. 

.  Bros Filecutters. 

G.  I*.  &  Co Stationery. 

J.H D.  G. 

Mrs.  E.  M Gro. 

.  &  C Machinists. 

_  £  S Lumber. 

-  R.  &  T Tobacco. 

M...  Blacksmith. 


[TO  BE  COXTINVED.] 


:HE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


263 


SACRAMENTO,  OAL. 


A &  K • Brewers. 

B R Wool. 

B II.  M Carriages. 

13 J Restaurant. 

B J Furniture. 

B R.  T.  &  Co Clothing. 

C J.  L Paints,  Oils,  etc. 

C G.  W.  &  Co.Whol.  Gro.,  Liq.,  etc. 

C E.  &  Co Sashes  and  Blinds. 

C W.  E Saloon. 

C C.  S Ins.  Agent. 

C P Hotel. 

C A.,  Sr Harness. 

C J.  F , Music. 

C A.  H.  &  Co Fruit  and  Prod. 

1) J.  G Furniture. 

D B.  &  Co Crockery. 

1) S.  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

E L.  &  Co Whol.  Clothing  and 

Boots  and  Shoes. 

E W.  P Hotel. 

F N.  G.  £Co D.  G. 

F &  Co Bookbinders. 

F G Furn'g  Goods. 

G M.  &  Co.. Stoves,  Hardware,  etc. 

G Bros I).  G. 

G S Coffee  and  Spices. 

G J Saloon. 

G W.  &  Co Foundry. 

II A.  &  Co D.  G. 

II T Boots  and  Shoes. 

II \V.  A.  &  Co Carriage  and 

Wagon  Materials. 
II &  A .  . . , .  .Boots  and  Shoes. 


II J Carriagemkr. 

H F.A Hotel. 

H W.  H Tinner  and  Plumber. 

H &  A Steam  Saw  and 

Planing  Mills. 

K L. .  .Stoves,  Tin  and  Hardware. 

K M Wagons  and  Blacksmith. 

K M Fey  Gds. 

L A Hatter. 

M J Gro. 

M A.  N.  H Varieties. 

M J Gro. 

M &  II Liquors,  etc. 

M W Wagons. 

M A Toys,  etc. 

M H Boots  and  Shoes. 

M S Dry  and  Fey  Gds. 

N A Cigars,  etc, 

N S.  J Clothing  and  B.  and  S. 

N C.  P.  &  Co Clothing. 

O R Boots  and  Shoes. 

P W.  M Clothing. 

P Mrs.  J.  L .Drugs. 

p L.  &  Co Whol.  Liquors. 

R W.  B Blacksmith. 

gUI  Mrs.  C.  H Milliner. 

S W.  A Produce. 

S S Tobacco. 

T &  K Saloon. 

T L Boots  and  Shoes. 

W H Jeweller. 

W D Stoves,  etc. 

W J.  B Tinware. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


284: 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


,  OAL. 


A L Clothing. 

A &  Bro Variety  Store. 

A B.  &  Co Lumber. 

A B Clothing. 

A J.  &  Co Imps.  Clothing. 

A S Hats  and  Caps. 

A S.  O.  &  Co Imps.  Clothing. 

A J Hardware. 

A &  H Whol.  Liquors. 

A T Co. 

A T Coal. 

A &  I Gents'  FurnV. 

A A Jeweller. 

A &  D Wood  ware,  etc. 

A S.  S .Varieties. 

B &  H Ag'l  Implts,  etc. 

B S.  M.  &  Co Com'n  and  Whol. 

Prov. 

M.  M.  &  Co Jewelry. 

A.  L.  &  Co Stationers. 

Bros Clothing. 

I.  D Real  Estate  Agent. 

B E.  I Cigars  and  Liq. 

B C.  P.  &  Co , Produce. 

B S.  £  Co Whol.  Furn'g. 

B H.  D Banker. 

B J Tanner. 

B J.  C Carpets. 

B &  P Com'n. 

B P.  &  Bro Hats  and  Caps. 

B M Mnfr.  Soap. 

B N Coal. 

B S Fancy  Goods. 

B &  Co. Gro. 

B R.  M Gents'  Furn'g. 

B L Boots  and  Shoes. 

B Mrs.  N Millinery. 

B &  T Horn.  Medicines. 

B &  B Livery,  etc. 

B T Advg  Agent. 

B G.  F.  &  Co Com'n. 

B &  Bro Imps.  Leaf  Tobacco 

and  Mnf  rs.  Cigars. 

B M Contractor. 

B C.  O.  &  Co Com'n  Prod. 

B G Marble. 

B A Hay  and  Grain. 

B J.  L Tailor. 

B M Com'n. 

B &  Co Drugs. 


A.  J.  &  Co Ins. 

M.  C Stoves  and  Tin. 

J.  W.  &  Co Carpets. 

A Drugs. 

J Warehouse. 

C.  A Printer. 

F M Co. 

B M Co. 

F.  &  P.  J Whol.  Liquors. 

P Co. 

J.  &  Co Imps.  Crockery. 

T W . 

C W.  S Speculator. 

C H.  A Mnfg.  Jeweller. 

C T.  R Clothing. 

C &  B Newspaper. 

C J.  P Brickmkr. 

C C.  &  Co Com'n  Prod.,  etc. 

C &  M Cigars. 

C &  H Ship  Chandlers. 

C G.  &  Co Whol.  Cigars. 

C C.  J Hatter. 

C D Fruit. 

C F.  D.  &  Son Flour  Mills. 

C M.  G. . .  .Saddlery  and  Harness. 

C I.  &  Bro Whol.  Dry  Goods. 

C A.  O Coal. 

C W.  B.  &  Co Blankbooks. 

&  W- Whol.  Liquors. 

Bros Fancy  Goods. 

C.  M.  &  Co Whol.  Wines. 

&  Co Boys'  Clothing. 

A.  C.  &  Co.. ; .  .Oils,  Lamps,  etc. 

B &  Co . .  Leaf  Tobacco,  etc. 

F Gents'  Furn'g. 

A Jewelry. 

T Mnfr.  Soap. 

J.  &  Co Distillers  and  Rec- 
tifiers. 

D M Lamps  and  Oils. 

B.  &  Co California  Wrines. 

J.  M.  &  Co Wire  Works. 

Bros.  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

H.  &  Co Bitters. 

Tobacco,  etc. 

F &  Co Ship  Chandlers. 

F H.,  Sr Com'n  Prod. 

F B.  P.  &  Co Packers,  Wool 

Dealers,  etc. 


THE   SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


285 


F M Bookseller. 

F Bros Imps,  and  Com'n. 

F &  Co Stationery. 

-  I Speculator,  etc. 

F &  Co Tanners. 

<  { H Wine's; 

(r &  H Brewery. 

G Bros.  &  Co.  Imps.  Fancy  G'ds,  etc. 

G S &  Co Sugar  Refinery. 

G N Undertaker. 

G M Boots  and  Shoes. 

H &  Co Foundry. 

H G.  S Gro. 

H C.  C.  &  Co Clothing, 

H T.  H.  &  Co Batter,  etc. 

H M.  C.  &  Co Hardware,  etc. 

H Bros.  &  Co Millinery. 

H &  L Pianos,  etc. 

H W.  &  Co Cigars,  etc. 

H &  Co Corks. 

II A II.  E.  and  Broker. 

II ,  P &  Co Saw  and 

Planing  Mills. 

II B Transportation.' 

H B.  &  Co Contractors. 

II H.  T Lime  and  Cement. 

II M I Co. 

H &  Co Hardware. 

II Bros Clothing. 

I &  G Clothing. 

I J.  &  Co Fruits  and  Nuts. 

J M.  I.  &  Co Bonds,  etc. 

J C.  J Salt. 

J W.  H.  &  Co Matches. 

K— —  &  S Gro.  and  Com'n. 

—  E.  C Imps.  Carpets. 

K J.  &  Co Lumber. 

K B.  &  Co D.  G'ds. 

K C.  J.  &  Co Sealed  Goods. 

K R.  C.  &  Co Leather. 

K C &  Co Toys,  etc. 

K Bros ' Dry  Goods. 

K &  Co Furniture. 

L &  Co Sheep,  etc. 

-  0.  &  Co Crockery. 

-B.  H D.  G'ds. 

-S.  &H D.  G'ds. 

_  &  B Hides,  etc. 

-  &  P Billiards,  etc. 

-  H.  &  Co Furs. 

-  &  B Tobacco,  etc. 

-  K &  Co Hardware. 

-  H Com'n. 

-F &M D.  G. 

_  &  H Real  Estate. 

-G.  O.  &Co Gro. 

-  IX  A.  &  Co Saw  Mills,  etc. 

-  &  W Lumber. 

-  I &  II Com'n. 


M P Salt. 

M S.  L.  &  Co Lumber,  etc. 

M Mrs.  C.  H Candy. 

M D Money  Lender. 

M &  W Bags. 

M H. Clothing 

M P.  &  Son Millinery  G'ds. 

M D.  C.  &  Co Ship  Chandlers. 

M &  F Com'n  Hides,  etc. 

M &  Co Oysters. 

M J.  C.,  Jr Liquors. 

M F.  P.  &  Co Furs. 

N J.  P Com'n. 

N &  Y Lumber,  Tools,  etc. 

N M.  D Looking  Glasses 

and  Picture  Frames. 

O E.  F. .  .Jeweller,  Ship  Chandler, 

etc. 

P O &  L W . 

P R M Co. 

P I.  &  N Clothing. 

P &  C M Co. Carriages, etc. 

P P.  J Gro.  and  Liq. 

P G.  W.  &  Co Lumber. 

P J.  K Imp.  Gas  Fixtures,  etc. 

R Saw  and  Planing  Mills. 

R II &  Co. . .  .11.  E.  B'krs,  etc. 

M.  R Shipping  and  R.  E. 

C &  Co Shipping,  etc. 

A.  &  Co Books,  etc. 

R F &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

S D Dry  Goods. 

g &  P S R . 

S &  Co Clothing. 

S &  V Whol.  Liquors. 

S H Cigars,  etc. 

S W.  &  Co Clothing,  etc, 

S L Hides  and  Wool. 

S A.  M.  &  Bro Lumber. 

S &  B Foundry. 

S &  H Carriage  Materials. 

T C.  L.  &  Co Com'n  Shipping. 

T F.  B.  &  Co. .  .Oil  and  Lamp  St'k. 

T &  Co Com'n. 

T &  Co.. Hard  ware,  Machinery,  etc. 

V &  D Iron,   Steel,  etc. 

W H.  P Drugs. 

W M.  S Wines  and  Liq. 

W F Stones. 

W H.  &  Co Wines. 

W P.  &  Co Merchants. 

W &  F Wines,  etc. 

W W.  II Drugs. 

W W.  &  Co Liquors. 

W S &  Co Pianos. 

W II.  &  Co.. .  .Jobbers  F'cy  Goods. 

W Bros Cloaks,  etc. 

W L &  Co .D.  G. 


&  Co. 


.Com'n  Prod. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


T1IE   COMMERCIAL  AGENCIES. 


SAVAOTTAH,  GA. 


-  J  E 

.....  .Gro        1  •  -T   Sr.  C.n   

D  G 

-M—  Co.. 
J  H 

Cotton,  etc. 
...  Liquors 

L       -  M 

Gro 

L          H          &  Co 

&  K 

.    Gro    etf. 

L     --J 

Clothinf 

&  D  .  .Brokers  and  Auction. 
P   M                  -       -  -Fanrv  Store. 

L  J   &  Bro 

M  A  

Marble 

R  &  Son  . 

.   Lumber   etc. 

M  J  J 

.    .  .         Lumber 

E 

Clothing. 

M  J.  W.&C.  A. 
M  &  B  .... 

Gen.  Store. 
Carriage? 

L  E 

.  .Furniture. 

P 

Gro 

M  J.  &  Son  

Auctioneers 

J  D 

Beer  Mnfr 

M  Mrs  E.    .      . 

Toys   etc. 

E.  W  P 
J 

ictures  and  Frames. 
.  .     .  D.  G 

M  C  &  Co.  .  . 
M  A   J    &  Co.  .. 

.Boots  and  Shoes. 
Furniture. 

J.  Y.  &  Co. 

A   &  Co     . 

D  G 

M  H.  T    Jr     .    . 

Com'n,  etc. 

...    .  Lumber. 

M  P  &  Co.  . 
M  G  H  

Foundry. 
,  .  .Drills. 

J   &  Bro     . 

D  G.  etc. 

M.  &  Co.  .  . 
C.F  
G.  J  
G  

Lqrs.,  etc. 
Stencils. 
Printer. 
Furniture. 

M  K.  W  

Dru"s. 

P  D.  G  

Printer. 

P  S.  N.  &  Co.  . 
P  J  

Hotel. 

D.  G.,  etc. 

D.  G. 

P  K  

Fey  Gds. 

L  

D.G. 

R  D.  J  

Photo.  Gds. 

-  A.  S.  &  Co. 
-S  
-A.,  Jr  

Com'n. 

S  J.  W  

Jeweller. 

.  .  .Flour  and  Grain. 
Clothing. 

S  E.  U  

.  .  .  Crockery,  etc. 
Boots,  etc. 
Coal 

S  J.  A  
T          G  T 

-  C 

Tailor 

-A.  E  

Gro. 

T  F.  E  

Founder. 

-  G    W 

W         D 

Clothing. 

-  W 

W          J    M 

Contractor 

S  &Co. 
-  S.  L  

W         H  M 

Com'n  etc 

Lumber. 

W  A.  N  

Com'n. 

J  

Gro.,  Liq.,  etc. 

[TO  EE  COXTINUED.] 


THE  SYSTEM   EXPOSED. 


287 


SCRAISTTON,  PA. 


A M.  L Picture  Frames. 

A &  J Paperhanorings. 

B F Furniture. 

B J Carpenter  and  Builder. 

B A.  &  Co Wagonmkrs'  Mate- 
rials. 

B M Furn'g  Goods,  etc. 

B J Books  and  Notions. 

C C Hatter. 

C J.  A Lime. 

C M.  D Mnfr.  Soap. 

C P.  II Hotel. 

C J Clothing. 

C &  G Clothing. 

C Mrs.  C.  C Milliner. 

D &  E Gro. 

D J.  H Liquors. 

D &  G B.  and  S. 

D T.  J Harness. 

F E Liquors. 

F A.  L Hotel. 

F C.  W Jeweller. 

G &  S Tailors. 

G C Co. 

G &  Co Cabinetmkrs. 

G P Furniture. 

H N Limekiln. 

H A.  R Millinery  and  F'cy  G. 

JL A Painter,  etc. 

H E Carpenter. 

H A Livery. 

II &  G .  .Hats,  F'ng  Goods,  etc. 

II C &  I Co. 

H J • Hotel. 

II &  B Furniture. 

J C.  J Gro. 

K M.  M. .  .Brewer  and  Whol.  Liq. 

K W &  Co Prod. 

L N.  Y Physician. 

L J Gro.,  etc. 


L I D.G. 

L P .Butcher  and  Gro. 

M J Contractor. 

M J.,  Jr. . .  .Fruit  and  Vegetables. 

M J.  J.  &  Co Gro.,  etc. 

M P Gro. ,  etc. 

M M Clothing. 

M A.  J.  &  Co Tailors. 

M H G.  S. 

M B.  G Drugs. 

M G Brewer. 

M T .Hotel. 

M H Boots  and  Shoes. 

N J .Gro. 

N M &  E Co. 

O F.  J.  &  Co G.  S. 

O C Hotel. 

P J.  W Florist. 

P A.S Ins.  Agent. 

Q &  D .Leather  and  Findings. 

R J Gro.  and  D.  G. 

R M.  &  Co D.  G.,  etc. 

R H Hotel. 

R C.  &  Co Whol.  Liqs. 

R G.  J G.  S. 

.  B Contractor. 

A .Coachmkr. 

F Baker  and  Saloon. 

S.  B Physician. 

S &  P Lumber  and  Com'n 

Mere. 

T B.  H Physician. 

W &  H Gro. 

W^—  T G.  S. 

W Bros D.  G.  and  Carpets. 

W F.  W Gro.  and  B.  and  S. 

W J Carpenter,  Builder,  etc. 

Z J Baker,  Confec.  etc. 

Z &B ...  ...Hall. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


TUP:   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


SPRINGFIELD,  MAS! 


A J.  F Varnish  Mnfr. 

A J.  C.  &  E.  A Doeskins. 

B &  W Hotel. 

B M Co Soda  Apparatus. 

B S.  &  Co Flour 

B A.  L Boots  and  Slices. 

B S.  S Coal,  etc. 

B G Hotel. 

B W.  S Carpenter. 

C G Batting  Mnfr. 

C G.  E .Paper  Stock. 

C H Tool  Mnfr. 

C H.  M Paper  Stock. 

C A.  W.  &  Co Agts. 

C .C.  H.  &  Co Mnfr. 

C &  K Gro. 

C H.  M.  &  Co Boxes,  etc. 

C Miss  S.  J Books,  etc. 

F B.  F Builder,  etc. 

F &  W D.  G. 

F H.  C Tobacco. 

G I.  N Drugs. 

G C.  M.  &  Co Paper. 

G &B Pipes. 

H &  S Gro. 

H S Coal  Sifter. 

H &  B " Bridges. 

H T...  ...Hotel. 


H J.  &  Co Carris 

H C.  T Gro.,  etc. 

H &  S Furniture. 

J &  B Furniture. 

J A.  H Confec.,  etc. 

K T.  Jr Furniture. 

L G.  M Lamps,  etc. 

L C.  M Hats,  Caps,  etc. 

L C.  D Mnfr.  Cartridge  Shells. 

L J.  L Builder. 

M J.  D Carpets. 

M N &  H D.  G. 

M W.  P.  &  Co Shoes. 

M A Contractor. 

M &  F Curriers,  etc. 

M A.  D.  &  Son Soap. 

M D.  B.  &  Co Tinware. 

M A.  T Soap,  etc. 

N Y W Co. 

N P C Co. 

R &  B Lumber. 

C.  H.  &  Co  Lumber. 

C Co. 

M M 

C.  C Boxes. 

-  C Electrotyper. 

-  &  P Clothing. 

-  &  E .  . .    , Founders. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


ST.  JOH:N~,  K  B. 


A J.  &  Co Dry  Goods.    I  C C J. 

A Bros Foundry.    I  C J.  B.. 

A H.  T.  &  Co Bopewalk. 

A A. Com'n. 

B G.  B Musical  Inst'ts. 

B T Gro.  and  Liq. 

B C.'E.  &  Co Furniture. 

B T.  B Gro.  and  Liqs. 


.Shipbuilder. 
..Cotton  Mill. 


H.  &  Son Fancy  G'ds.  etc. 

C Liquors. 

D M Gro. 

J Boots  and  Shoes. 

B.  B Com'n. 

G . . .  . .  .Com'n. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


280 


E W.  E Stoves. 

F E Lumber. 

F C.  K Dentist. 

F Mrs Clothing. 

G J Hotel. 

H J.  &  Co Mnfrs.  and  Founders. 

H H Saddle  and  Harness. 

J E.  &  C.  D Hats,  Caps,  etc. 

L E Junk,  etc. 

L T.  &  Co Clothing. 

M J.  T.  &  Co Tinware. 

M F.  B Drugs. 

M &  P Victuallers. 

M T Gro. 

M W &  Co D.  G. 

M J.  D Shipping  and  Coal. 


M E Millinery. 

M J Boots  and  Shoes. 

M J Liquors. 

N P M Co. 

P G.  R Com'n. 

R T.  M Apothecary. 

R A.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Saws. 

R C.  E Shipping. 

S R.  S.&Co D.G. 

S &  M Gro.  and  Flour. 

S S Flour  and  Fish. 

W J.  &  Co Naval  Stores. 

W L.  H Salt,  etc. 

W W.  I Flour. 

Y A...  ...Stoves. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


ST.  JOSEPH,  MO. 


J Hotel. 

F.  &  Co Clothing. 

-  :....Gro. 

Agent. 
Gro. 
G.  S. 

Foundry. 

Feed,  etc. 

W.  L Livery. 

M Books. 

J.  T Hotel. 

W Livery,  etc. 

W Factory. 

J Gro. 

D News  Depot. 

S. ; Blacksmith. 

W Painter. 

&  A Hotel. 

J.  G...  ...Tailor. 


H A Capitalist. 

H B.  &  Co Liquors. 

H P.  A Hotel. 

K A Tobacco. 

L J.  C Saddlery  H'ware. 

L F Blacksmith. 

M Mrs Hotel . 

M &J G.  S. 

R &  H Jewelry,  etc. 

S J.W Scales. 

S C.  C Newspaper. 

S C.  L Drugs. 

S B &  S Lumber. 

S W.  P Feed  Mills. 

S &  D D.  G. 

T J.  M Hotel. 

T &  Co G.  S. 

U F Co. 

W &  W Wagons 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED. 


290 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


ST.  LOUIS,  MO, 


A D Books,  etc. 

A W.  H.  &  Co Notions. 

&  Bro Safes. 

W.  &  Co Plug  Tobacco. 

R.  &Co Soap. 

W.  S Books. 

Bros.  &  R Tobacco. 

Bro.  &  Co Hats,  etc. 

L.  &  Co Com'n. 

J Corks. 

C B Newspaper. 

C W L Co. 

C I.  &  Co Clothing. 

C TJ Co D.  G. ,  etc. 

D B &  Co D.  G. 

D W Gro. 

D G Tobacco. 

F J.  D.  &  Co Gasfitters. 

F S.  G.  &  Co Com'n. 

F J.  H.  &  Co Liquors. 

F J.  B Ales,  etc. 

F E.  &  Co Wool,  etc. 

G Bros Glass. 

G C.  H.  L Hotel. 

H W.  H Auction,  etc. 

H Bros Medicines. 

H &  S Clothing. 

H R &  Co.  ..Railway  Supplies. 

H &  G Lumber. 

H L.  W.  &  Co Stoves,  etc. 

H C &  Co Books. 

H J Gro. 

H E.  F.  &  Co Books,  etc. 

H &  Co Clay. 

H J Machines. 

H L.  J Tob.  and  Cig. 

H R P—  Co. 

J &  Y Carriages. 

J I W . 

K H.  A Tobacco. 

K &  B Clothing. 

K W Clothing. 

K J Wagons. 

K E.  C.  &  Co Painters. 

K J Brewery. 

L T Co. 

L P.  &  Co Live  Stock. 

L G Boots  and  Shoes. 

M M Co. 

M J Carpenter. 

M H Pictures,  etc. 


|  M &  M Gasfitters. 

M E.  &  Co Jewelrv. 

M S P Co. 

M J Shirts,  etc. 

M A.  W.  &  Co Bankers. 

M &  T Transfer. 

M C Pictures. 

M &  B Saw  Mill. 

O J Saloon. 

O D.  M.  &  Co Ag'l  Impl'ts. 

P R.  C Restaurant, 

P C.  H.  &  J.  W Planing  Mill. 

P C Tobacco. 

P L Confectioner. 

Q O R.  E.  Agent. 

R T.  &  Co Tobacco. 

R &  c Tools. 

B &  Co Fruits. 

Gro. 

B &  N Co. 

S P M Co. 

S W G M Co. 

S M.  &  L Clothing. 

S R.  F F.  Agent. 

S F.  H. . , Tobacco. 

g H.  M Broker. 

S Dr.  G.  H.  &  Co Pat.  Meds. 

S L G.  S. 

S V Mills. 

S C.  P Liquors. 

T F.  &  Co Vinegar. 

books. 

V I W . 

W B Jewelry,  etc. 

W M Maltster. 

W T.  B.  &  Co Publishers. 

W J.  G Books. 

W W Mnfr.  Spring  Bed  Bot- 
toms. 

W G .Organs. 

W H Books. 

W A Mnfr.  Brooms. 

W E Books. 

W J Ink  Mnfr. 

W F Dry  Goods. 

W T Iron  Railings. 

W J.  &  Co Brewery. 

W E.  K Books. 

Y &  C Plumbers. 

Z &  C Wines,  etc. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


THE   SYSTEM  EXPOSED. 


291 


ST.  PAUL 


-G Stoves,  etc. 

-  H Coppersmith. 

-  G.  M Ranges,  etc. 

-E.  C Scales. 

-  &  P Com'n. 

-&  M Com'n. 

-H.  &  Co i Gro. 

-  R Clothing. 

-  J Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  J . .  .Supply  Store. 

-E.  R.  &Co Hotel. 

-  H.  C.  &  Co Stationery. 

-  &  B Speculators. 

-  H.  P Newspaper. 

-P.  R.  L Leather. 

&M Boots,  etc. 

-  T.  J Teas. 

-  J.  M Lumber. 

-  D &  Co Lqrs. 

-  R.  A.  &  Co Hats,  etc. 


N Hotel. 

&  S Carpenters 

Mrs.  J.  B Milliner. 

L.  B Grain. 

P M Co. 

W T Co. 

O D Books. 

P H Tobacco. 

P N Hotel. 

R E.  D.  K Notions. 

R C Periodicals. 

R H.  W Drugs. 

S A Books. 

S P A &  M Co. 

S &  K Leather,  etc. 

S R.  O.  &  Co Carpets. 

T H.  J.  &  Co Lumber. 

T F.  A News  Agt. 

V W.  A.  &  Co Com'n. 

W I.  N Livery. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


SYRACUSE,  E",  Y. 


•  J.  &  Sons Flour,  etc. 

•  W.  S Sporting  MatTs. 

•  M Co. . .  .Mowing  Machines. 

•  B.  &  Co Millinery  Gds,  etc. 

•  R Livery. 

•  N.  M D.  G.,  H'dware,etc. 

M Salt. 

J.P Saloon. 

T.  C Cigars. 

J Contractor,  etc. 

&  Son Carriages. 

•  M.  N Notions. 

D Boilers' 

•B Brewer. 


H P Gro. 

H F Saloon,  etc. 

H Bros Oil. 

H E Carriages. 

H S.  E.  &  Co Gro. 

j w.  &  Sons Shoes. 

J &  B Fey  Gds. 

L E Gro.  - 

L &  B Sashes,  j 

M J Speculator. 

M &  G H'dware. 

M &  Co Clothing. 

M P.  R Gro. 

N &  N Plumbers. 


292 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


P A.  F.  &  Co Lqrs. 

P G.  A,  &  Co Salt. 

P &  L .Foundry. 

P M.  S D.  G. 

K A.  &  Bro Clothing. 

It R.  &Son...  ...Trunks. 


S J Planing  Mill. 

S D.  R H'dware. 

S &  B Clothing. 

W E.  L Boots  and  Shoes. 

W C Qro. 

W J.  M Ladies'  Furn'g  Gds. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


TOLEDO,  O. 


A VV.  W Jeweller. 

A A.  A Hotel. 

A D Gro.  and  Saloon. 

A H &  W Brass. 

A H M Co. 

A S &  S Sewing  Ma- 
chines. 

A J G.S. 

B C Millinery  and  Fey  Gds. 

B E Malt. 

B J Ship  Timber. 

B L.  C Shoes. 

B &  C Ins.  Agents. 

-U W.  H.  &  Co. .  Whol.  Carpets,  etc. 

C L.  A.  &  Co Lumber,  etc. 

C J.  W Jeweller. 

C C.  W Com'n. 

C H.  E Teas  and  Coffees. 

C G &  Co  Com'n. 

C J.  D Auctioneer  Fey  Gds. 

C, J.  C.  &  Son Fire  Apparatus. 

D M.  S Hats  and  Caps. 

D C.  E .' Clothing. 

F Dr.  D.  G Drugs. 

P J Gro. 

&  B Prod. 

M Clothing. 

V.  W.  &  Co Mer.  Tailors. 

J Ins.  Agent,  etc. 

•&W Com'n. 

H P.  T Com'n. 

H &  B Drugrs,  etc. 

H &  W Sashes  and  Blinds. 

H &  N Paints,  Glass,  etc. 

H J Brewer. 

H M.  W Real  Estate. 


H L.  J.  H Box  Factory. 

K T.  L.  &  Co Com'n. 

K P.  W Gro. 

K Bros R.  E.  Agents. 

K J.  &  Co Com'n. 

K L Saloon. 

K C Boots  and  Shoes. 

K F Boots  and  Shoes. 

L &C D.  G. 

L J D.  G.,  etc. 

L &  W Staves. 

L G Stoneyard. 

L I Clothing. 

L F Boxes. 

M G Gro. 

M W.  H Gro.,  etc. 

M &  Y . . .  .B.  &  S.  and  H.  &  C. 

N J Boots  and  Shoes. 

O J Marble,  etc. 

O J Teas,  etc. 

O &  S Lime,  etc. 

P J.  S Mill  Supplies. 

R G.  H Sewing  Machines. 

R G.  W.  &  Co Millers. 

R B Harness. 

R &  T N Works. 

S J.  V Planing  Mill,  etc. 

S S Boarding  House. 

S &  H Fwdg  and  Com'n. 

S &  Co Brewers. 

S T  N.  &  Co.  .Mnfrs.  Tinware,  etc. 

S J.  L 'Furniture. 

S J Hotel. 

S J Mer.  Tailor. 

T A.  B. .. .  Ag'l  Impl'ts  and  Seeds. 

T J.  L Jewelry. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


293 


W L Builder. 

W C.  A Boots  and  Shoes. 

W &  F . .  .Saddlery  Hardware. 

W H &  Co, , ,  .Mnfrs.  Tobacco. 


[TO    BE    CONTINUED.] 


TOEONTO,  ONT. 


A &  Co Brewers. 

A J.  R Foundry. 

A D.  &  Co Wkol.  D.  G. 

B N Miller. 

B J Shoes. 

B B Saloon. 

B E.  O Iron. 

B J.  &  J.  L Milk,  etc. 

B B Flour,  Grain,  etc. 

B W Builder. 

B M &  Co Fey  D.  G. 

B &  Co H'dware. 

C R ' Books. 

C S &  Co D.  G. 

C P.  G.  &  Co Wkol.  Gro. 

C A Fey  Gds. 

D N &  Co Foundry. 

D W.  E Cigars. 

D W Blksmith. 

D F Cigars. 

F A.  &  Son Hall. 

F A.  &  Co Wine  Mers. 

G J Plaster. 

G M.  J Jobber  Cloths. 

G R.  C.  &  Son Printers'  Mtrls. 

H G Plumber. 

H B &  Co. . . .  Whol.  Millinery 

and  Straw  Gds. 

II W Whol.  Confec. 

H H Restaurant. 

H J Shoes. 

H Bros Whol.  D.  G. 

J &C  Builder,  etc. 

J J.  B Shoes. 

K J ; .  .Hotel. 

K W Hotel. 

K S.  P. . .  . .  .Watches. 


L T &  L G.  S. 

L E Gro. 

L E Drover. 

L G.  &  Sons Nursery. 

L Bros Printers. 

M R Saddler. 

M A Prod. 

M H Patent  Rights. 

M T Produce. 

M &  H D.  G. 

M D.  Estate  of Steamboat. 

M Mrs.  A D.  G. ,  etc. 

M W.  A.  &  Co D.  G. 

M W.  &  Son Coal. 

'O D &  Co Lumber. 

O J Lumber. 

P J.  S House  Agt. 

R A Drover. 

R J.  H Hats,  etc. 

R T.  &  Son Watches. 

R M Gro. 

S &  F Machinist. 

S H.  T Plumber. 

S J.  B.. Lumber  and  Planing  Mill. 

S J.  W Chemicals. 

S J Tailor. 

S Bros ,. . .  .Tavern,  Gro.,  etc. 

T R Prov. 

T T.  &  Son D.  G.  and  Shoes. 

T T Saddler. 

T P &  Co Leather. 

V P Gro. 

W C.  &  W Mer.  Tailors. 

W &  Co .Prov. 

W Mrs Millinery. 

W A.  B.&Co Lqrs. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


291 


THE   COMMERCIAL   AGENCIES. 


TRESTTCOT,  IS".  J. 


A H.  G Flour  Mills. 

G Hotel. 

C.  E Fancy  Goods. 

•I.  T Coal  and  Wood. 

A.  J.  &Co Candy. 

C &  N Liquors. 

C &  C Hats. 

D &  V Undertakers. 

D D.  O Liquors,  etc. 

F L Furniture. 

F D.  P.  &  Co Pork,  etc. 

F •&  Sons Brkrs. 

G I.  C Gro. 

G W.  E Baker. 

H R Co Rubber. 

H P Gro. 

H E Blacksmith. 

H E.  M Hotel. 

J J.  T. . .  , .  .Tobacconist. 


J Shoes. 

•A.  R Hotel. 

-  L.  H.  &  Co Furniture. 

-  &  E D.  G. 

-  &  A Pottery. 

-  I Miller. 

-  J.  W Newspaper. 

-  «.  A Capitalist. 

-E.  &Co Crackers. 

•J.  W Gro. 

-  J.  A.  Sons Rope. 

H.  G G.  g. 

A.  D H'dvvare. 

J Boots  and  Shoes. 

J Packer. 

J.  L Physician. 

H &  B A 

-  B Carpet  Mnfr. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


TROY  i'N.:'Y. 


A M Hotel. 

A S.  &  Son Gro. 

A H.  &  Co..Agts.  N S — —  Co. 

A J ,. . .  .Furniture. 

B G.  H  Liquors. 

B P.  &  Son Flour  and  Gro. 

•B J.  L Tinware,  etc. 

B J.  W Undertaker  and  Livery 

Stable. 

B H.  K Hotel. 

C E H'dware,  Tools,  etc. 

C &  F Wooden  Ware. 

C Mrs.  S.  A .Milliner. 

C H.  &  H.  S Stoves. 

C G...  ..  .Mnfr.  Shirts. 


C L.  &  De  W Mnfrs.  Paper, 

Collars,  etc. 

C J.  W Com'n  Mer. 

C Mrs.  K Brewer. 

C T.  A Roofer. 

C &  Co Gro.,  etc. 

C W.  S.  &  Son Tailors. 

C R.F Books. 

D F.  &  Co Gro. 

D M Furniture. 

D W.  H.  &  L.  L Stone. 

E J Drugs. 

E W Boots  and  Shoes. 

E L.  D Engineer, 

E J Billiard  Saloon  and  Cigars. 


THE   SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


E E Clothing. 

F J.  S Clothing. 

F &  P Clothing,  etc. 

F W.  W Ins.  Agt. 

F T.  B.  &  Co- Liquors. 

F &  L Fish . 

F M Jeweller,  etc. 

1  G A.  G Laundry. 

G &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

G S.  O Drugs. 

G L Cotton  Mill. 

G T &  S . .  .Jewellers,  etc. 

H A.  M Fruit. 

H A.  E Printer. 

H W.  J Builder. 

H T.  J Job  Printer. 

H E.  W. . . ....... .K.  E.  Operator. 

J W.  H Gents'  Furu'g. 

J &  B Clo.  and  Tailor. 

J O Foundry. 

K &  Co Shoddy  Material. 

K C Upholsterer. 

K R Gro. 

K &  M Liquors. 

K J Clothin"-. 

L W.  II Clothing. 

L W Clothier. 

L H.  L Feed. 

L Mrs.  J D.  G. 

L E.  C Varieties. 

M L.  J Hotel  and  Livery. 

M &  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

M M D.  G.  and  Notions. 

M T Fwdjf. 

M Mrs.  E Fancy  Goods. 

M &  P Mufrs.  Paper. 

M &  A Hotel. 

M &  Co Gro.  and  Com'n. 

M T Carpet  Weaver. 

N W.  A Claim  Agent. 

N H.  E.  &  Co Gro.,  Prov.,  etc. 


-  &  B Ins.  Agents. 

-  J Junk. 

-  F.  T Fancy  Goods. 

-J.  B Publisher. 

-  G.  D.  &  J.  W Gro.  and  Liq. 

-  J.  H House  Furn'g. 

-  G.  N Hats  and  Caps. 

-C.  W Candies. 

-  D ..Boots  and  Shoes. 

-J.  II Jeweller. 

J Clothing. 

-  M Tinware. 

G.  W ..Shoes. 

&II Stoves. 

&Co Fish,  Salt,  etc. 

M , D.  G. 

E.  &M Milliners. 

A.  H .Drugs. 

Bros Gro.  and  Liq. 

&  Co.  ..Plumbers  and  Gasfitters. 

H &  Co Furniture,  etc. 

J.  E.  &  Co Lumber. 

J Upholsterer. 

R.H Druggist. 

J.  F Brewer. 

E.  L.  &  Co :Ins.  Agents. 

T.  S Mnfr.  Boilers. 

-J.  S.  &  Co Clothing 

-  W.  II Machinist. 

D.  D Mnfr.  Paper. 

-  B C Co. 

-  N Coffee  and  Spice. 

•&  S Boots  and  Shoes. 

.  A &  Co Coal . 

-  N.  S Patternmkr. 

-  &  T Ag'l  Implts. 

-  E.  &  Sons Boats. 

-  J.  B.  &  Co Clothing. 

-  D.  M Fancy  Goods. 

-  C.  H.  &  Co. .  .Boots  and  Shoes. 

-  J.  F Musical  Insts. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


UTIOA,  "N.  Y. 


A &  G Boots  and  Shoes. 

B F.  W Gro.  and  Saloon. 

B J Builder. 

B C Brewer. 

B .  F.  W Florist. 

B W...  ...Builder. 


B- H.  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

C H.  N Stoves,  Tin,  etc. 

C Mrs.  S.  A Hotel. 

C N &  P Mnfrs.  Caps. 

C &  C Whol.  Clothing. 

C A.  E Transportation. 


296 


THE   COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


.  P.  &  Sons Glass,  etc. 

Gro. 

Lumber  and  Planing  Mill. 

R.  C Marble. 

J.  E Flour,  Feed,  and  Grain. 

G.  &  Co Crockery. 

M Co Hoes,  etc. 

B.  G.  &  Co Wkol.  Jewelry. 

F.  D Roofing. 

H.  D.  &  Co Boots  and  Shoes. 

H.  &W.  K Coal. 

E.  B.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Paper. 

J.  P Physician. 

T.  J Printer. 

J.  B Mnfr.  Boots  and  Sboes. 

G.  W Jeweller. 

&  L Mnfrs.  Boots  and 

Shoes. 

G.  T Factory. 

A R.  E.  and  Speculator. 

J Builder. 

P Hotel. 

F &  Co Stoves,  etc. 

&  H Pipes. 

W. Harness. 

C Drugs. 


E Oysters  and  Fruit 

C.  A.  &Co ". Hotel 

Hotel. 

&  Co Picture  Frames. 

H.  C Gro.  and  Prov. 

E.  C Window  Shades,  etc. 

&  H . . .  Whol.  Tob.  and  Cig. 

N.  C.  &  Son Paints,  etc.1 

T Boots  and  Shoes. 

W Mnfr.  Boots  and  Shoes. 

J.  Sons Whol.  and  Ret.  Gro. 

&  C Boots  and  Shoes. 

W.  B Tobacconist. 

F Gro. 

L Builder. 

R.  W Printer  and  Bookb'dr. 

L Gro.  andD.G. 

J Hotel. 

A.  H.  &  Co Mnfrs.  Saws. 

N.  F Hotel. 

W.  B.  &  Co. Mnfrs.  Spring  Beds. 

C.  F Mnfr.  B.  and  S. 

W.  S Jeweller. 

&  P Fdwg. 

H.  H Paints. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


WASHOTGTO:N\  D.  o. 


A J.  H Stoves  and  Tinware. 

A L. . . . Cigars. 

A I Watches,  etc. 

A J Paperhangings. 

A A.  M Paperhangings. 

B L Agent. 

B P.  L Gro. 

B J.  C Gro. 

B G.W Prod. 

B &  S Feed  and  Lqrs. 

B J Books  and  Stat'y. 

B A Undertaker. 

B L.  C Drugs. 

B B Millinery. 

B H Liquors. 

C J.  T B'ldng  Materials 

C C.  R Drugs. 

C E.  T.  &  Co  . . ,  . .  .Lumber. 


C T.  A Books  and  Stat'ry. 

C J.  H.  &  Co Gro. 

C C Boots,  etc. 

C R.  &  Co Shoes. 

C J.C Gro. 

E Cigars. 

Tailor. 

D A.  W. Com'n  Paper. 

D A Hats,  etc. 

D T.  G Prod. 

D — -  E Tailor. 

E C.M D.G. 

E S N Co. 

E F Cabinetmkr. 

E H.  M Tinware. 

F &  S Bldng  Materials. 

H J.  C Architect. 

H G.  M.  &  Co Stoves,  etc. 


THE    SYSTEM    EXPOSED. 


297 


H  V       .        ... 

.    .  .  Baker. 

M-         C 

H  G   C     . 

...Clothing. 

M—  •     J.  T 

D  G 

H  H     

....  Jeweller. 

M  F.  &  Son   .      . 

H  F  

Whol.  Gro. 

M  W.  J   .  . 

J  H.  S  

Saddler. 

R  W   

K  X  

;  Clothing. 

S  •  A  

K  G.   E  

Gro. 

Gro 

K          \V  E 

S          J   H  &  Co 

C  loth  i  no* 

L  &Bro  
L  J  &  J   E 

D.G. 

S  &W  
S          C   &  Co 

Lumber. 

L  H  &  T  . 

.  .Gents'  Furn'g1. 

Hotel 

M  C.  .  . 

...Hotel. 

W  J... 

...Hotel. 

[TO    BE  -CONTINUED.] 


WILMIITOTCOT,  BEL 


•  J.  A Stoves  and  Ranges. 

J.  P Gro.  and  Prov. 

&H Mnfrs. 

D &  Co Builders. 

•  G.  W Agt.  Sewing  Maclis. 

J Paints,  etc. 

J China,  etc. 

W.  H Hotel,  etc. 

T.  C Iron  Railings. 

I.  T Currier. 

J.  A.  &  Co Harness. 

E Com'n. 

•  S S W- 

-T.  Sr Gro. 

•E.  C Physician. 

•  L.  M Drugs. 

.  G.  W Com'n. 

J.  K Boots  and  Shoes. 

J Boots  and  Shoes. 

W Physician. 

C Druggist. 

R.  H Gro. 

•  A D.  G.,etc. 

•  S.  E .Trimmings. 

•  &  E Printers. 

E Flour  and  Feed: 

•  Mrs.  C D.  G. 

•  W.  H Gro. 

-P Weaver. 

-J.  B Hotel. 

•  H.  X.  &  Co Cotton  Gds. 

•  &  B .  . .  . .  .Coachmkrs. 


—  J , Hotel. 

— -  A.  L.  &  Co. Machinists. 

—  W.  M Jeweller. 

—  P Liq.  and  Gro. 

—  G.  W Trimmings. 

—  H.  S Silverplater. 

—  R.  H Leather. 

—  &  W .   .  Printers  and  Stat'rs. 

—  J Operator. 

—  E D.  G. 

—  R Picture  Frames. 

—  N Clothing. 

—  O Shoes,  etc. 

—  O.  C Queensware. 

—  J Prov. 

—  P  C.  &  Co Gro. 

—  J Gro. 

—  MissM.  J Milliner. 

—  A.  B Drugs. 

—  W Painter. 

—  W Carpenter. 

—  L Greengro. 

—  W.  H Auctioneer. 

—  S.  &  Son Morocco. 

-R • Marble. 

—  L Baker. 

—  M &  G Hubs,  etc. 

—  M.  B.  &  Co Bolts,  etc. 

—  &  Co Florists. 

J.  M.  &  Son Gents'  Furn'g. 

&  G Gents'  Furn'g. 

—  J Cooper. 


[TO  BE   CONTINUED.] 


298 


THE    COMMERCIAL    AGENCIES. 


WORCESTER,  MASS. 


A J.  C.  W Boots  and  Shoes. 

A J Tobacco. 

A W.  G.  &  Co Cabinetmkrs. 

B C.  &  Co > Lumber. 

B R.  &  Co Machnry. 

B H &  Co Boots. 

B &  W H'dware. 

B W.  C Soapmkp. 

B J.  J Fancy  Dry  Goods. 

B F Mnfr.  Slippers. 

C J.  S.  &  Co Leather  Varnish. 

O j.  w F'cy  Goods. 

C J Gro. 

C J Braes. 

C J.  &Co Gro.,  etc. 

C G.  H Paints. 

C W.  S Wool. 

C C.  &J.A Fndry. 

E B Gro. 

E D.  H.  &  Co Clothing. 

E H.  W. Carpenter. 

F A Clothing,  etc. 

G G Hats,  etc. 

H J Gro. 

H C.  C Mnfr.  Paper  Bags. 

H W.  P Crockery,  etc. 

L J Boots,  etc. 


&  Bro Cards,  etc. 

D.  &  Co Apothecaries. 

T.  S  Sons Boots  and  S. 

T J.  C Boot  Mnfr. 

U- C.  A F'cy  Gds. 

W S W 

W W. Boots  and  S. 

W E.  B Contractor. 

W P &  Co Clothing. 

W G.  W Brewery. 

W &  Co Bakers. 

W &  L G &  P Co. 

W T Rubber  Goods. 

W S.  J.  &  Co Dry  Gds. 

W M S Co. 


[TO  BE  CONTINUED.] 


A     000024949 


